Chapter 74: The Code To Come Home

The bell chimed behind Kane as he stepped onto the sidewalk, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Through the shop window, he watched Kodiak and Corvus approach Mochi’s counter, their conversation too muffled to make out.

Kane forced himself to walk at a normal pace, resisting the urge to sprint.

He wandered until he found himself at a nearby park, settling onto a weathered bench beneath a streetlamp.

The evening air carried the scent of autumn leaves and distant food trucks.

He pulled out his phone, scrolling aimlessly through messages, but his mind kept circling back to the shop.

When he’d been with Cyrus, situations like that felt... manageable.

The dragon had this way of making even the most dangerous spirits seem like minor inconveniences.

There was something about Cyrus’s presence that made Kane feel untouchable, like nothing could reach him as long as the dragon was nearby.

Now, sitting alone on a park bench, that security felt miles away.

Kane rubbed his temples, watching a couple walk past with their dog. Where was he supposed to go tonight?

His apartment remained a crime scene; yellow tape was probably still stretched across his door.

The Bureau had recommended he stay elsewhere until the investigation concluded.

A hotel seemed like the logical choice. But he remembered that most of his clothes and belongings were still at Cyrus’s penthouse.

Kane stared at his phone, thumb hovering over Cyrus’s contact.

Would it be awkward? Definitely.

But more importantly, would Cyrus even want him there now that they weren’t magically obligated to tolerate each other’s presence?

Cyrus had no obligation to house him or feed him. Plus, the dragon had probably spent the day enjoying his newfound solitude.

His finger traced the edge of his phone case, weighing convenience against pride.

A group of teenagers skateboarded past, their laughter echoing off the surrounding buildings.

Kane envied their simplicity—no life debts, no dragon roommates, and no complicated feelings about either.

He stood up, decision made, though he wasn’t entirely sure which one yet.

Kane hailed a cab, not wanting to squeeze through the metro for the third time today.

The cab pulled away from the park, city lights blurring past the windows.

Kane’s leg bounced anxiously as they navigated through evening traffic, second-guessing himself with every block.

Twenty minutes later, the driver stopped at the sleek entrance to the underground garage of Cyrus’s penthouse.

Kane paid the fare and stepped out, the familiar scent of expensive cars and concrete greeting him.

He made his way through the garage, past Cyrus’s collection of luxury vehicles.

The empty parking space where Cyrus’s Mercedes usually sat confirmed Kane’s suspicion—the dragon wasn’t home yet.

Kane stared at the vacant spot, feeling oddly deflated. He’d psyched himself up for an awkward reunion, only to find himself alone again.

The private elevator hummed quietly as it carried him up to the penthouse level.

Kane’s reflection stared back at him from the polished metal doors, looking uncertain and slightly guilty.

When the elevator opened, Kane approached the front door and pressed the handle.

Locked.

Of course it was locked. Why wouldn’t it be?

Kane stared at the biometric scanner beside the door, then noticed the small keypad beneath it.

His mind raced back to the few times he’d watched Cyrus enter the passcode, usually while Kane was distracted by something else.

Four digits. Cyrus’s fingers had moved quickly, but Kane remembered the pattern.

He pressed 1-3-1-4, holding his breath.

The lock clicked open.

Kane blinked in surprise.

Either he had better observational skills than he’d given himself credit for, or Cyrus used a laughably simple passcode for someone with his security concerns.

The penthouse welcomed him with its familiar minimalist elegance, though something felt different about the space.

Kane closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing in the silence.

He stood in the entryway for a moment, surrounded by expensive furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased the city’s glittering skyline.

Without Cyrus’s commanding presence filling the space, the penthouse felt almost tomb-like in its perfection.

Suddenly, Kane’s ears twitched, catching the familiar hum of the private elevator ascending.

This could only mean one thing: Cyrus was back.

He glanced around the penthouse, weighing his options.

He could grab his things and bolt, but explaining why he was here uninvited would be infinitely more awkward than whatever excuse he could manufacture.

Then inspiration struck.

Cyrus’s secret room.

Kane hurried to the bookshelf, running his fingers along the spines until he found the hidden mechanism.

The shelf swung inward with a soft click, revealing the dragon’s private sanctuary.

He slipped inside, leaving the door slightly ajar so he could hear Cyrus enter the penthouse.

Kane quickly located the security panel inside the room, its red warning lights still flashing ominously.

He tried the same password—1314—and held his breath as the system processed it.

The lights shifted from red to green, and the threatening hum of defensive measures powered down completely.

Kane exhaled in relief, thinking that number probably meant something important to Cyrus, and he was fortunately right again.

The familiar blue glow of the magical glyphs illuminated the gaming setup, vinyl collection, and romance novels—Cyrus’s carefully hidden humanity on full display.

Kane settled onto the leather sectional, picking up a controller and starting up a random retro game.

The elevator chimed in the distance, followed by the soft thud of the front door closing.

Kane’s plan was simple: act like he’d been here all along.

Sure, Cyrus would be mad, but it wouldn’t be as awkward as explaining why he’d come crawling back like some lost puppy.

To sell the act, Kane had taken off his jacket and shoes, making himself comfortable like he’d been there for hours.

He’d even opened an energy bar from his jacket pocket, though the dry granola nearly choked him.

He had to wash it down with water from the mini-fridge, coughing slightly.

Act casual and intentional, Kane thought to himself as he adjusted his grip on the controller.

He was just a guy playing video games in his... friend’s... man cave.

Totally normal behavior.

Just then, the bookshelf mechanism clicked, and Kane felt Cyrus’s presence fill the doorway like a storm front.

He focused on the game screen, pretending to be absorbed in navigating his character through a digital maze.