Chapter 10: Hunt

Zane’s POV

We got back to the apartment and locked everything behind us, twice. Leo sat on the edge of the old couch like it might bite. Still too tense.

„Something’s wrong,“ he said after a long moment. „Yeah,“ I said, checking the window for the third time. „Word on the street says a search order just dropped. Royal blood gone rogue. And not just our kingdom.“ Leo stiffened. „What do you mean?“ „Neighbor kingdoms are involved too. Big deal. Makes me think this isn’t just about embarrassment or scandal. You’re not just some lost boy to them. You’re… leverage.“

„-Kaito,“ he whispered. I turned. „Who?“

His fingers gripped his knees. „Prince Kaito. I overheard my father mention him once. When I was younger. Said he was dangerous because he looked loyal.“

„Never met him?“

„No. But- I always noticed him. From a distance. The way he carried himself. He was-“ Leo struggled for the word. „Stoic. Like stone wrapped in silk.“

Huh. Interesting.

„That’s poetic,“ I said.

He flushed. „I used to watch him at events. I don’t think he ever saw me. But I remember.“

What Leo didn’t know, couldn’t know, was that Kaito did see him. Always had.

Word on the street said Hayate took the mission personally. Refused to send guards. Chose to come alone. Strange for a prince who never involved himself with foreign affairs. Especially not when it came to our kingdom.

And even stranger?

Someone else was asking questions too.

Not out loud. Never directly. But when their crew starts sniffing around the same names as the royal tracker, it means the lines are about to get messy.

I looked over at Leo. He was still staring at the wall. Still somewhere else. I wanted to say something comforting. I wanted to tell him we’d figure it out.

Instead I said, „We’re gonna need to move. Soon.“

He blinked. „Why?“

„Because you’re not the only one running toward something. Some people are running for you. Others?“ I looked out the window again.

„They’re hunting.“