Chapter 4: Beneath the mask

Sienna's heart pounded as Kieran Drax led her onto the dance floor. The weight of the masquerade surrounded them—golden chandeliers casting flickering shadows, masked figures moving like whispers in the candlelit ballroom, the scent of jasmine and aged cognac lacing the air.

Kieran's grip was firm yet controlled, his palm pressing against the small of her back as he guided her into a slow, deliberate waltz. The brush of his fingertips against her bare skin sent an involuntary shiver down her spine, but she kept her expression carefully schooled, refusing to let him see the effect he had on her.

"You took the invitation," Kieran murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Sienna tilted her chin, meeting his gaze through the dark slits of his mask. "I go where the story leads me."

His lips curled, an infuriating smirk playing at the edges. "And do you think you've found your story yet?"

She held his gaze, refusing to be drawn into his game. "I think I've stepped into something bigger than just a story."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes, but he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he twirled her, spinning her effortlessly before drawing her close again.

Sienna's breath caught. His scent—dark spice, a hint of cedar, and something uniquely him—wrapped around her like a dangerous promise. She had spent years chasing powerful men, unraveling their secrets, but Kieran Drax was different. He wasn't a man running from his shadows; he was a man who controlled them.

"What do you know about Echelon?" she pressed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kieran's smirk didn't falter, but his grip on her waist tightened. "Dangerous questions, Miss Raye."

"I thrive on dangerous questions."

His gaze darkened. "I don't doubt that. But be careful—sometimes the answers are far more dangerous than the questions themselves."

Sienna arched a brow. "Is that a warning?"

Kieran leaned in, his lips brushing close to her ear. "It's a promise."

A slow shiver traced down her spine. For a moment, she wasn't sure if it was fear or something far more dangerous—desire.

Before she could press him further, a voice interrupted them.

"Drax. You're monopolizing our new guest."

Sienna turned, her gaze landing on a man who exuded the same controlled power as Kieran. Tall, with sharp features and silver-threaded hair, his mask was an elaborate swirl of gold and black, concealing all but his piercing blue eyes.

Kieran's grip on her waist didn't loosen as he inclined his head slightly. "Sienna Raye, meet Victor Langley."

She knew that name. Langley Industries. One of the most powerful media conglomerates in the world. A man who owned information, controlled narratives, and buried stories he didn't want the public to see.

A man who, according to whispers, had ties to Echelon.

"Ah, so this is the infamous journalist," Victor mused, taking her hand and brushing a kiss against her knuckles. "I must say, your reputation precedes you."

Sienna offered him a polite smile. "I could say the same about you, Mr. Langley."

His chuckle was smooth, practiced. "You flatter me." His gaze flicked toward Kieran. "But I must admit, I'm curious. What exactly is it that brings you here tonight, Miss Raye?"

Sienna felt Kieran's fingers flex slightly against her waist before he released her, stepping back just enough to let her stand on her own. It was a subtle gesture—one that told her the game was now hers to play.

She met Victor's gaze, keeping her expression neutral. "Curiosity."

Victor studied her for a moment before smiling. "Curiosity is a powerful thing. It has built empires… and destroyed them."

Sienna didn't flinch. "That depends on whose empire we're talking about."

A flicker of amusement passed through Victor's eyes before he gestured toward the edge of the ballroom. "Would you care for a drink?"

She hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Of course."

Kieran said nothing as she stepped away with Victor, but she felt his gaze burning into her back.

The masquerade had only just begun, and already, she was walking a dangerous line.

---

Victor led her toward the grand bar, where crystal decanters gleamed under the candlelight. He poured them each a glass of deep red wine, his movements slow, deliberate.

"You're brave," he mused, handing her the glass.

Sienna took it but didn't drink. "For coming here?"

"For stepping into a world you don't understand."

She tilted her head. "Then help me understand it."

Victor chuckled, swirling his own glass. "Oh, Miss Raye. You're in far deeper than you realize."

Her pulse kicked up, but she kept her expression calm. "Then tell me. What is Echelon?"

Victor's gaze sharpened, all traces of amusement vanishing. For the first time, the mask of politeness cracked, revealing something colder beneath.

"You think it's an organization," he said quietly. "A secret society."

She held his gaze. "Isn't it?"

He leaned in slightly. "Echelon isn't a thing, Miss Raye. It's a force."

Sienna's fingers tightened around her glass. "A force that does what?"

Victor studied her for a long moment before setting his drink down. "It keeps the world in balance."

A chill wrapped around her spine. "And who decides what that balance is?"

He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "Men like Kieran Drax."

Sienna's breath hitched. She had expected lies, deflections. But this? This was confirmation.

Kieran was part of it.

She turned slightly, her gaze searching for him across the ballroom. He was still there, standing at the top of the staircase, his mask concealing his expression. But even from across the room, she felt it—

He was watching her.

Waiting.

The realization struck her hard. He hadn't just invited her to this world. He had led her to it.

And now, she was in the middle of something far more dangerous than she had ever imagined.

Sienna turned back to Victor, her pulse steady, her voice controlled. "Then tell me, Mr. Langley… what happens to those who disrupt the balance?"

Victor's smirk returned. "They get removed."

A slow, deliberate warning.

Sienna forced a smile, raising her glass in mock toast. "Well, then. Let's hope I play my part well."

Victor chuckled. "I do hope so, Miss Raye. It would be such a shame otherwise."

She took a slow sip of her wine, never breaking eye contact.

The game was no longer just about uncovering the truth.

It was about survival.

And she wasn't sure whose side Kieran Drax was really on.