Houston – The Hunt for Nocturne

(Henry's POV – Unraveling the Shadows)

The city of Houston was just as I remembered—hot, chaotic, and full of secrets.

I walked down the neon-lit streets, my coat swaying in the warm breeze, my sharp blue eyes scanning the crowd.

This place reeked of corruption.

A perfect hiding spot for someone like Nocturne—the Lord of Despair.

Samuel had told me she was here.

But what really caught my attention?

That she and Roselle Vasilyev—the feared Queen of Darkness—had both been played.

And that?

That was hard as hell to believe.

I had seen Nocturne's power firsthand in our second life.

She wasn't just some woman with authority—she was an unstoppable force, a master of deception, and a monster in battle.

For someone to actually outmaneuver her?

That meant the enemy was on a level even we hadn't anticipated.

I frowned, stepping into a dimly lit bar, my boots clicking against the floor as I made my way to the counter.

The bartender barely looked up. "What'll it be?"

I slid a hundred-dollar bill across the counter. "Information."

The man's eyes flicked to the cash before he pocketed it with a grunt. "Depends on what you're looking for."

I leaned in slightly. "Nocturne. Where is she?"

The bartender stiffened for a fraction of a second.

A normal person wouldn't have noticed.

But I did.

"Don't know what you're talking about." He turned away.

I grabbed his wrist before he could move.

"Wrong answer."

His breath hitched. "Listen, man, I don't want trouble—"

I tightened my grip. "You already have it."

Before he could try anything stupid, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

Samuel.

I exhaled sharply before letting go of the bartender's wrist. "Stay put."

Stepping outside into the night air, I answered the call. "Samuel, you better have something useful."

His chuckling came through the receiver. "What's with the tone, Liberty? Bad day?"

I rolled my eyes. "Cut the crap, Samuel. You said Roselle and Nocturne were played. How the hell do you know that for sure?"

There was a brief silence.

Then, with pure shamelessness, he answered—

"Because I interrogated Roselle in bed for hours. And with lots of kisses."

I nearly choked on air.

My jaw dropped. "You what?!"

Samuel laughed like he just told me the most casual thing in the world. "Hey, I got all the information we needed, didn't I?"

I ran a hand through my hair, absolutely done with his bullshit. "You call that interrogation?!"

"Worked, didn't it?"

I clenched my teeth. "It's always about defeating enemies, not f*cking them, Samuel!"

He just kept laughing. "Oh, come on, Henry. Don't act so pure."

I sighed, shaking my head. "Unbelievable."

"Hey, don't hate the method. Hate the results if they're wrong."

I sighed. "Fine. What else did you learn?"

His voice turned serious. "Whoever played them… is dangerous. They used Nocturne's own tactics against her. Manipulation, deception, secrecy. They never revealed their hand, not even once."

I frowned. "So they never saw the real enemy."

"Exactly."

That was even more concerning.

If Nocturne and Roselle—two of the most feared rulers—had been kept in the dark, that meant we were dealing with something beyond just power.

This was a game of pure strategy.

And we had no idea who was pulling the strings.

I clenched my fists. "I need to find her. Nocturne might not trust me, but I'm getting answers out of her one way or another."

Samuel's smirk was practically audible. "Maybe try my method."

I hung up the call.

"Idiot."

But I couldn't deny it—

This was worse than we thought.

And I had a feeling Houston was just the beginning.

New York – The Queen of Wealth and Deception

(Nocturne's POV – The One Who Got Played)

The city lights of New York shined through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my private office, reflecting off the polished black marble.

I sat at my mahogany desk, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of my leather chair, my mind racing.

Even now, I still couldn't believe it.

I got played.

Me—Nocturne.

The wealthiest woman in the world. The President of the most powerful corporation on the planet.

A master manipulator, feared and respected in every corner of society.

And yet—someone outmaneuvered me.

I clenched my jaw.

Unforgivable.

My phone buzzed.

Roselle.

I exhaled sharply before picking up. "What is it?"

Her sultry voice came through the speaker. "No need to be so cold, Nocturne. I have news for you."

I leaned back, rubbing my temple. "If it's not about finding the one who played us, I don't care."

Roselle chuckled. "Oh, it's about that. But more importantly, someone's coming for you."

I frowned. "Who?"

"Heaven's Wing."

I went completely still.

Henry Hans.

The Divine Executioner.

The only man who could match me in power, intelligence, and skill.

My fingers tightened around the phone. "How do you know?"

Roselle's laughter was wicked and teasing. "Because, darling, I just spent weeks not being able to walk straight for that information."

I froze.

My mind went blank.

Then—

Realization hit me like a truck.

She and Samuel…

"You fucked Samuel?" I asked, my voice flat.

Roselle giggled shamelessly. "Oh, not just once. Multiple times. He's… quite skilled, Nocturne."

I grit my teeth. "Tch. You actually went that far?"

"For information, of course," she purred. "But let's be honest, I didn't mind at all."

My nails dug into my desk.

I wasn't sure if I was angrier about being played by an unknown enemy—

Or the fact that Roselle Vasilyev got to Samuel before I got to Henry.

I let out a long sigh. "You're unbelievable."

Roselle smirked through the phone. "Jealous, darling?"

I rolled my eyes. "Not about Samuel. But Henry? Now that's a different story."

Roselle laughed. "Then I suggest you don't waste time, Nocturne. He's coming straight for you."

I smirked, standing up from my desk and walking toward the glass window, overlooking the entire city.

"Let him come."

After all—

I never lose twice.