Lucian entered the hideout, his mind on the mission—General Soren Valtieri, a powerful army official, was a threat that needed eliminating. His plan was simple, but there was a catch—he wasn’t going in alone. He would be paired with another assassin, but who exactly, he didn’t know yet. As he moved through the dimly lit space, the concrete floor cold beneath his boots, his eyes scanned the room, searching for any familiar faces. The air smelled of rust and something metallic—blood, perhaps, from a recent scuffle. That’s when he spotted her—Sasa—standing with a group of new recruits. She had a quiet intensity about her, an assured presence that immediately caught his attention. Before he could look away, Jonas, an old friend with a scar bisecting his left eyebrow, appeared at his side. "Lucian," he said with a brief nod. They exchanged a handshake, calloused palms meeting in the familiar grip of men who had fought side by side before, but Lucian’s eyes were still locked on Sasa. Jonas, noticing the direction of his gaze, grinned. "She’s your partner for the mission," he said casually. Lucian’s gaze shifted back to Sasa, his interest piqued. With a purposeful stride, he walked toward her, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the empty space. As he approached, Sasa paused mid-sentence, sensing his presence like a predator detecting another in its territory. She stopped talking and looked up at him, her eyes calm but alert. Lucian stopped just in front of her, his posture steady, his gaze unwavering. "Lucian Vale," he said, his voice low and direct. "Are you my new partner?" The question was straightforward, but his eyes lingered on her a bit longer than necessary, evaluating, calculating, perhaps even something else.