Fated reborn - Chapter 265: Chapter 265

Luciano’s POV
The house was quiet, just the way I liked it after a long day. The scent of burning wood from the fireplace lingered in the air, mixing with the familiar smells of home—old books, leather, and something faintly sweet from the kitchen. Victor walked ahead, already shrugging out of his jacket as he made his way toward the stairs.
"Not even gonna grab a drink first?" I asked, watching him.
He let out a small chuckle but didn’t stop. "Too tired. I’ll be out in five minutes."
I didn’t believe that for a second. Victor always said he was going to sleep early, but he’d end up in his room, lost in his own thoughts, or pacing around until exhaustion finally won. I didn’t push it, though. We both had our ways of unwinding.
Instead of heading straight to my own room, I turned toward the kitchen. The place was dimly lit, but there was just enough glow from the overhead lights to see. I wasn’t really hungry, but I poured myself a glass of water, leaning against the counter as I took a slow sip.
For a moment, I just stood there, listening to the stillness of the house. Nights like this were rare. Peace was rare.
I could hear faint footsteps above—Victor moving around. Further down the hall, a door creaked open, then shut again. Probably one of the patrol guards switching shifts.
Everything was settled. Everything was as it should be.
After a while, I finally made my way upstairs, pushing open my bedroom door. The room was just as I had left it—neat, quiet, untouched by the chaos that sometimes followed us. I tossed my jacket onto the chair by the window and ran a hand through my hair, exhaling as I kicked off my shoes.
The bed looked inviting, but I wasn’t ready to sleep yet. Instead, I walked over to the window, pulling back the curtains just enough to look outside. The moon was high, casting a silver glow over the trees that lined our territory. Everything was still.
I let my thoughts wander, my mind sifting through the events of the day. The meeting, the conversations, the way every leader there had watched us, measured us. Respect was given, but it was always conditional. In our world, power kept you at the top, and the moment you slipped, even a little, there was always someone waiting to take advantage.
That was the reality of leadership. Of being in control.
And yet, despite the weight of it all, tonight felt different. Lighter. There was no immediate threat, no lingering tension. Just silence.
I stayed there for a while, watching the wind move through the trees, listening to the quiet hum of the night.
At some point, exhaustion crept in, dragging at my limbs. I pulled off my shirt, letting it fall onto the chair before finally lying down. The mattress sank beneath my weight, the cool sheets welcome against my skin.
Just as my eyes started to close, I heard it—Victor’s door creaking open again. Then footsteps, slow but steady, making their way down the hall.
I sighed. "Told you you wouldn’t be asleep," I muttered to myself.
He wasn’t the only one.
The house had settled into silence, the kind that only came late at night when even the wind outside seemed to rest. But I wasn’t fully asleep yet. Lying there, I listened to the faint sound of Victor moving down the hall. He was quiet, but not quiet enough.
I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face before turning onto my side. I could ignore it, let him do whatever pacing or thinking he needed to do, but I knew him too well. If he was still up, something was on his mind.
After a few more minutes, I finally gave in, pushing the blankets off and getting out of bed. The floor was cool under my feet as I moved toward the door, opening it just enough to see out into the dimly lit hallway.
Victor was at the far end, leaning against the railing that overlooked the main floor. His arms were crossed, eyes distant as he stared at nothing in particular.
I didn’t say anything at first, just walked over and leaned against the railing beside him. For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then, finally, I broke the silence. "You should be sleeping."
Victor exhaled through his nose, a slight smirk pulling at his lips. "So should you."
I huffed a small laugh. Fair enough.
A few more seconds passed before he spoke again, quieter this time. "You think they meant what they said back there?"
I didn’t have to ask what he was talking about. The meeting. The way the other leaders had spoken about peace, about maintaining alliances.
"I think they meant it in the moment," I said honestly. "But words are just words. When things get difficult, that’s when we’ll see who really stands by their promises."
Victor nodded slowly, still staring ahead. "Yeah."
I could tell his mind was still running through everything, picking apart every conversation, every glance exchanged. He wasn’t someone who took things at face value. Neither was I, but he had a habit of holding onto things longer than necessary.
"You worried about something?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Not worried. Just thinking."
"That’s dangerous for you."
That earned me a quiet chuckle. "Asshole."
I smirked but didn’t say anything else. Whatever thoughts were keeping him up, he’d sort through them eventually.
For a few more minutes, we just stood there, letting the quiet of the house settle around us. The soft flicker of light from downstairs cast long shadows across the walls, and somewhere outside, a distant howl echoed through the trees.
It was peaceful. A rare kind of peace.
Eventually, Victor pushed off the railing with a sigh. "Alright. I’m actually gonna sleep now."
I gave him a skeptical look but didn’t argue. "Sure."
He smirked before turning back toward his room, disappearing behind the door with nothing more than a small wave.
I stayed for a little longer, staring out into the dark before finally heading back to my own room.
This time, when I lay down, sleep came easier.