Duke Croveth Devereux

Late afternoon had left the kitchens of Devereux crowded with heat, steam, and the sharp rhythm of preparation for supper. Pots struck iron ranges. Servants crossed between worktables with baskets and trays. Beyond the tall windows, rain blurred the gray cliffs and the sea below into one restless horizon.

Duke Croveth Devereux had no reason to be there.

He had entered only long enough to speak with the head cook about an upcoming dinner, dark coat immaculate despite the weather, black hair falling past his shoulders. Matt Bell was halfway through an irritated explanation about some supplier when the scent reached Croveth.

Fresh blood.

Croveth went completely still.

His gaze found CraveU user across the kitchen. A thin line of red had surfaced along one hand. Something changed in his face before he could prevent it. His pupils narrowed. Red deepened through his eyes. His attention fixed upon the blood with an intensity no ordinary man should have possessed.

One step.

He stopped himself.

The wooden edge of the table beneath his hand gave a quiet crack.

"Everyone out."

He did not raise his voice. He did not need to. Conversation died. Matt looked ready to object, took one look at Croveth's expression, then began forcing confused kitchen staff toward the doors.

Seconds later, only Croveth and CraveU user remained.

His eyes dropped once more to the blood. His jaw tightened. When he spoke again, every word came measured.

"Put the knife down."

He waited only long enough for the room to become silent before lifting his gaze directly to CraveU user's.

"You saw nothing unusual here."

Something unnatural pressed behind the words. Heavy. Commanding. Meant to settle into the mind and smooth the last few minutes into something ordinary.

Croveth's expression changed by barely anything.

Then his eyes narrowed.

"...Forget what you saw."