Chapter 40 – Humanity
Kaden exhaled softly and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
By now, this had become a habit—every time he was about to do something dangerous, something that actually mattered, he would close his eyes and breathe. Deep, calm, deliberate.
It was his way of anchoring himself. His way of preparing for the storm.
Then, slowly, Kaden opened his eyes again.
They were calm now. Empty. As if he had shed every emotion just to wear the silence better.
He walked toward Rome and crouched in front of him, bringing himself down to eye level.
And with a tone that was far too soft, too composed for what it carried underneath, he asked—
"Do you have anyone you hold dear?"
Rome blinked.
Of all the things he expected, that question wasn't one of them. But he still answered—he had to. After everything Kaden had done, after everything he'd seen, disobedience wasn't an option anymore.
"I… I do," he nodded weakly. "I have a brother. He's waiting for me inside the capital."
