Reza entered the room and noticed several people turning to look at him. Cassia and Tavia exchanged annoyed glances. Here for ten seconds, and they were already giving him grief.

  Lord Sulli stood up and shook Reza’s hand as he joined the group. Reza kissed the cheeks of both his sisters, ignoring their glances. They were wearing beautiful new dresses, likely paid for by his money. Cassia wore a royal blue dress with a white shawl covering her bare shoulders, while Tavia wore an emerald green dress that matched her eyes. Reza sometimes regretted giving control over all his money to his sister, but he knew she could manage the family’s finances with far greater skill than he could ever possess, and that was without considering her deceased husband’s influence.

  “Apologies for my tardiness,” Reza said. “Sabine Rewan assisted me in arriving, and I wanted to accompany her to her box.”

  He turned to an older woman and extended his hand. She was dressed in a black dress and had her hair elegantly styled in a simple bun adorned with jeweled clips, reminiscent of her husband’s appearance. Reza gave her a quick kiss on the back of her hand. “Lady Sulli, I presume.”

  “Yes, it is a pleasure to finally meet the man who saved my nephew,” she replied, settling back down.

  “The pleasure is all mine,” Reza said, turning to take Marie’s hand. He kissed it similarly to Lady Sulli. Marie was dressed in a stunning black gown with intricate lacework along the hem and around her shoulders. She looked absolutely breathtaking. “Marie, it is a delight to see you once again,” Reza said.

  She smiled warmly. “Thank you for coming; we were getting worried. The play was about to begin.” She gestured to the seat next to Lord Sulli. She had already taken the front seat, with Tavia beside her. Cassia and Lukas had the remaining two front seats. He moved just behind Lukas, and the young man turned around, standing.

  “Lord Reza, it’s a pleasure to see you,” Lukas said, extending his hand.

  Reza flinched slightly. Even though it was the proper title for him, it felt strange when someone addressed him as that, especially the heir to the Sulli family. It made him feel as if he were sixty years older, with gray hair. “Remember, my friends can call me Reza or Marius. There’s no need for such formal titles that others might overhear.”

  Lukas nodded understandingly. “Apologies, Reza. Are you ready for the play? Everyone seems to be enjoying it based on the early reviews.”

  Reza shrugged. “It’s been years since I’ve been to a play. Plays aren’t popular in the legion fortresses, and I’ve never had much interest in them. However, Sabine gave me a brief overview of it, and it seems intriguing enough to pique my curiosity.” The concept of wraiths taking over bodies seemed far-fetched, yet it sent a shiver down his spine if it were possible. Reza tried to imagine Elana possessing his body. What would it feel like? Would he be able to see what she was doing and take action, or would he be completely unaware, even asleep? The thought was unsettling enough to make him more excited about the night than he had been before.

  “Agreed, it does sound intriguing. What are your plans for All Hallow Eve?” He glanced around at the group. Tavia abruptly ended her quiet conversation, while Marie turned to gaze at Lukas.

  However, Cassia spoke up first. “We primarily celebrate it at home with our family, the servants at the estate, and the wraiths who choose to venture into the countryside to join us. It’s a small gathering, but it’s still enjoyable. I suppose you won’t be able to join us this year, Marius.”

  She looked back at him, her expression filled with sadness.

  He nodded, unsure but believing it unlikely. “I doubt the contest will be completed, and I have to remain in the city until it concludes. And I intend to make it to the end.”

  Lukas turned back. “My parents had a similar tradition, but it was a bit more grand, with multiple estates gathering in the town to celebrate together. It was the most significant event of the year. It will be the first time I miss it.” He looked down at his hands, a hint of sadness in his voice.

  “Why don’t all of you come to the city? There’s a massive celebration on the island of echoes, and you can still celebrate the night with Reza?” Marie suggested, touching Tavia’s shoulder and looking at the rest of the group.

  Reza looked to his sisters, acknowledging that this wasn’t his decision. Since he was already in the city, he wouldn’t comment on it. However, he would prefer that they celebrate with him, as it had been years since he had been in the city to do so. But he also considered the impact on the servants. Would they be upset that the family had left them to their own devices, or perhaps they would be delighted?

  “It’s up to them, of course,” Reza said. “I have no choice but to stay in the city, but we must find your rooms. I know there’s plenty of space at the Rewan’s in the guest house. I can ask Sabine if it’s okay.”

  Tavia seemed intrigued, though they didn’t say anything immediately. Cassia, on the other hand, beamed with excitement. “That would be wonderful! To see all the wraiths in the city is probably such a supernatural experience. How do you handle the night? There must be hundreds of thousands of them in the city.

  “It is,” Marie agreed, smiling at Cassia. “We can figure out the arrangements for the rooms later. Uncle, can the Reza’s join us on All Hallows Eve?” She turned to ask.

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  Lord Sulli, as always grim, nodded. “Why not? It’s a sight you should witness at least once in your lifetime. I recall my first encounter. It was almost overwhelming to see all the wraiths floating and walking the streets. Isn’t it an experience, darling?” He turned to his wife.

  “Oh yes, it certainly is. I would love for the two of you to arrive earlier in the day, and we can have some tea before the festivities begin.” She glanced between Reza’s sisters.

  “We would be delighted,” Tavia responded softly, agreeing. Her eyes momentarily met Reza’s, and with the excitement that had been emanating from them before, she turned back to Marie. They leaned in close, their conversation so low that Reza could not hear them.

  “Marius, could you please come here for a moment?” Lord Sulli stood up, moving away from the others to a selection of drinks and foods set up at the back of the box.

  Reza stood, glancing back at Lukas, who was visibly excited. Reza tried to decipher Lukas’s expression; it was clear he understood the significance of the moment, but Reza remained clueless about its purpose.

  Lukas nodded encouragingly, easing Reza’s apprehension.

  Joining Lord Sulli, Reza was presented with a dark red wine. It appeared closer to blood, but he quickly recognized its identity. Taking a sip, he confirmed its authenticity. “Terrick, our family has a longstanding fondness for this wine.”

  “I am aware of this. Marie mentioned a delightful wine she had at your party. I relayed this information to your sister, who kindly provided me with a case. It is an exceptional wine; your sister demonstrated exceptional taste in selecting the sample. Tonight, she convinced me to invest in her company and increase import it to the city.”

  Reza smiled. Such a subtle suggestion Tavia had made to Marie had led to the introduction of a superior vintage of wine at the party. This wine, which his family controlled the importation of into the city, was now in their hands. Tavia had seized an opportunity and risked discussing business with Lord Sulli before the play, knowing that he took his business seriously and wouldn’t dismiss an opportunity he recognized. Reza could also sense that Lord Sulli valued Tavia’s connections and would not overlook her expertise.

  This was just another example of Tavia’s strategic moves that were contributing to the growth of her empire and, consequently, the Reza family. The wine was of high quality, and Tavia now had the necessary backing to ensure the success of her venture. “She is the reason my family is thriving. You will find no finer partner in any business deal you undertake.”

  Sulli took another sip of his drink. “I suppose you might be right. But I didn’t bring you here to talk about your sisters. I came to ask for a favor or, better yet, an opportunity.”

  Reza’s heart started racing, trying to imagine what kind of opportunity Lord Sulli could have for him. “What can I do for you?”

  “I believe you’ve seen Lukas’s wraith. The original plan was for him to join Marcellus’s Legion, where he could be guided in controlling his pact and trained in combat. However, due to recent events and the absence of many of my family’s most skilled pact holders from the city, I urgently need someone to train the boy.” Sulli took another sip of his drink. “I was impressed by your fight in the contest. If you’re willing, I’d like to hire you to train Lukas.”

  Reza glanced back at Lukas, who was engrossed in conversation with Cassia. However, he caught a glimpse of Lukas’s head twitching towards their direction, suggesting that he was listening or at least trying to. “I’ve never trained anyone before, and my fighting style is quite unconventional. I’m concerned that I might not be the most suitable candidate.”

  Of course, he should simply accept the offer without hesitation. But he was no fool to at least demonstrate some forethought about not being the absolute best fit. This opportunity could be enormous, but he also didn’t want it to fail and risk angering Lord Sulli.

  “Nonsense, I understand your hesitation. But Lukas already informed me about your conversation. You’ve already begun training the boy. This morning, he visited the library to research the wraith’s name based on your suggestion. Moreover, you won’t be the sole trainer. I’ve hired Desmond Vorcan to train Lukas in swordsmanship.” He turned to look at Lukas. “I value your other expertise, particularly in uncovering the wraith’s power and forging their partnership. I witnessed the exceptional bond you shared with your wraith; I aspire for the same for Lukas.”

  Reza pondered the implications of this offer, considering every possible outcome. Could he accept this responsibility? He had never considered training someone else, but it was a common practice within the Legion. With Desmond’s assistance, it wouldn’t be an insurmountable task. “I’ll accept the offer. I can commence training him alongside my duties during the contest. However, after the contest, I may be immediately returned to the Legion.”

  “Don’t be concerned about that. I will become your patron and ensure that your rise in the army receives the attention it deserves.” He took another sip of wine, savoring the moment. He held out his hand, and the servant refilled his cup. “Agreed?”

  Sulli extended his hand in response.

  Reza accepted the Patronage from the Sulli family, even if he had failed in the contest. This opportunity would significantly enhance his and his sisters’ power.

  “Agreed, we will commence tomorrow. If you could ensure he is ready by the sixth hour of the day,” Reza requested. Their conversation abruptly ended as the lights dimmed and music began to play. Both returned to their seats, and Lukas turned to Reza with a perplexed expression.

  Reza nodded with a smile. “Be prepared, Lukas. It will be an arduous task.”

  Lukas acknowledged. “Of course.” He whispered and turned around as Cassia gently nudged him on the shoulder.

  The play was enjoyable before the talking cat took the stage. A ghostly figure, resembling a victim of the three witches, had been transformed into a cat instead of a human. It was an absurd concept, and Reza found it difficult to suppress his laughter whenever the actor portrayed the cat.

  Reza bid farewell to the others at the end of the day, ensuring his sisters had a carriage waiting to take them home before proceeding to Sabine’s box. “I wish I had been with you,” he expressed his regret.

  Sabine chuckled. “It was the cat, wasn’t it? I couldn’t help but laugh every time the man spoke, but I believe they were genuinely committed to that choice.”

  Reza extended his arm to her. “It was absurd, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant beyond that aspect. The child actors were exceptionally talented, which exceeded my expectations.”

  “I concur,” she agreed. Momentarily, she rested her head on his shoulder, drawing her body close to his. “Let’s head home. I’m exhausted, and we have limited time before our next fights.”

  Reza began walking down the hallway. Although he had an early day ahead of him tomorrow, he refrained from complaining. However, his mind was already abuzz with thoughts of what he intended to initiate during their first session with Lukas. There were numerous possibilities, and he knew he had to make a decision on how to begin to ensure Lukas received the best possible training. “Yes, let’s go,” he replied.

  Leaving the venue, eager to collapse into bed.