The was wipe crumpled in Lilianna’s fist.

But she chose to turn back to the mirror, removing the remnants of her makeup with renewed fury.

"Don’t act like we’re close just because I had the privilege of being one of the few people who knew that you’re an omega."

That particular secret was one of the few cards she held over him.

Chronos—Zero—the Empire’s darling idol with the face of an angel and the voice of a siren, was an omega masquerading as an alpha.

The disguise was so good that only selected few in their inner circle knew it until now. The fact that Lilianna did know should have given her some leverage.

But, Chronos just shrugged, completely unbothered. "Really prickly now, huh? Well, that’s understandable since I joined last."

"If you know, then get out."

"But I still have to give you a piece of advice." His tone changed again, the playfulness draining away. "Don’t do anything unnecessary."

Lilianna’s hands stilled against her cheek. She met his eyes in the mirror’s reflection—those strange, inhuman eyes that sometimes seemed to glow with an inner light.

"Unnecessary? Who asked you to talk to me? Bryan? Ciel? Thiago?" She let out a harsh laugh. "They were so enthusiastic yesterday, I felt like vomiting."

"It’s our big sis."

The words hit her painfully, like a huge betrayal.

Helena...why?

"Even her?" Lilianna’s grip on the vanity table tightened until the wood groaned in protest. A hairline crack appeared near the edge. "Well, I should have expected it since she kept making me shut up."

"Honestly, you were really too obvious yesterday. It was hard to distract Grayson."

"Just let him know and decide for himself."

Chronos tilted his head, a gesture that made him look almost bird-like. "If we did that, are you sure he would leave you alone? He knows you as well as Bryan does."

"I really hope he knows me too well. That he even knows my feelings for him."

"That’s a really high bar to cross over. You know the man has his own priorities."

"Exactly." The word came out sharp, venomous. "That’s why the fault lies with that slut."

"Lilianna." The warning in Chronos’s voice was unmistakable—the tip of a lightgun muzzle pressed cold against her tender skin.

But Lilianna was past caring, past holding back. She turned to face him directly, a laugh bubbling up from somewhere deep, dark, and damaged.

"What? I didn’t even say who!"

"I know." Chronos sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment. "But I’m warning you. Don’t make me do something to my friends against my will."

"Are we even friends?" Lilianna rolled her eyes, completely sounding like she lost her mind. "What can you even do to me?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she knew she had made a mistake.

Chronos’s eyes changed.

One moment, she was looking at a pop idol with honey-gold irises and a playful smile. The next, that color had drained away, replaced by something cold and empty and utterly inhuman.

His pupils contracted to pinpoints and said with a playful tone, "Depends on who asked."

She knew that if Grayson ordered the team to eliminate Lilianna, she would surely die at Chronos’s hands before anyone else drew their weapons.

Not because he wanted to.

Not because he would enjoy it.

But simply because that was what Zero was, Grayson’s blade.

Lilianna’s throat went dry.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the fear that threatened to choke her, and met his inhuman gaze.

"Just wait," she said, her voice trembling a little. "I’ll prove to all of you that I’m not the one you should be wary of."

As quickly as it had appeared, Chronos’s eyes changed back the second he blinked. Suddenly, he was back to being just Zero again—beautiful, playful, insufferably smug.

He shrugged and said, "Give it a shot."

The casualness of his response was somehow more infuriating than the threat had been. Lilianna turned back to the mirror, her mind racing.

She needed a plan.

To reveal that Grayson’s precious secretary was the real threat.

And then, like a gift from the universe, an idea came to her.

"Are you free?" she asked, keeping her voice neutral.

Chronos raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen a top idol ever free?"

"I mean, can you spare some time?"

"What is it?"

"Can you help me?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Now both of his eyebrows rose in interest.

"Spill it."

Lilianna turned to face him with a smile spreading across her tear-stained face.

"Let’s follow them on their date."

For the first time since he had entered, Chronos looked genuinely surprised. "We don’t even know when or where that is."

"I can figure it out myself."

"How?"

"I have my ways."

Chronos was silent for a long moment. Lilianna could practically see the gears turning behind his pretty face.

"But..." He drew the word out slowly, as if tasting it. "While watching the General on a date is primetime entertainment, if we get caught, he will actually kill us. You know that, right?"

"Then just don’t get caught." Lilianna spread her hands. "Isn’t that your specialty?"

Chronos’s gaze looked at her from top to bottom before spitting out, "But not yours."

"Can’t you just help me hide?" Lilianna exclaimed in frustration. "A person or two isn’t hard to keep hidden, right?"

"Well..." He drummed his fingers against his knee, contemplating. "That depends on whether you’re actually going to stay hidden."

"Since the date is at the Aquarium." Lilianna pressed her advantage, sensing his weakening resolve. "Surely there are blindspots along the way. And in the end, it’ll be dark. Not to mention it’s public."

"Exactly." Chronos raised a finger. "But you forgot something."

He pointed the raised finger at her. "You’re a famous celebrity in the Empire and an alpha."

Then pointed it back at himself. "I’m a top idol and a ’known’ alpha."

"HOWEVER," he emphasized exaggeratedly, "We’re male and female alphas."

"So?" Lilianna rolled her eyes at him. "We’re still alphas in their eyes."

"I know that, but do they?" Chronos then hugged himself and comforted himself as he continued, "The crowd is inevitable, but even more so with paparazzi. Just imagining having a dating rumor between us urks me, yucks."

"Are you kidding me?" Lilianna was beyond speechless. "Can’t you even think about making a good disguise for both of us?"

"Well..." Chronos said, slowly letting down his arms and crossing them on his chest instead.

"I can..." A slow smile spread across his face. "But why would I?"

"Seriously?" Lilianna’s patience snapped.