The air shifted.
Colder.
Sharper.
Valentine noticed it first.
A small white flake—
fell.
Then another.
She looked up.
"…snow."
Barely a whisper.
Within seconds—
more followed.
Soft.
Silent.
Artavius sat up immediately.
"…we're going back."
His tone changed.
Practical.
Valentine frowned slightly.
"…already?"
"It'll get worse."
No room for argument.
She sighed—
clearly annoyed—
but stood up anyway.
"…fine."
They started walking.
The snow began to settle—
lightly at first—
on her hair…
her shoulders…
The cold crept in slowly.
Artavius noticed.
Of course he did.
"…why didn't you wear anything warmer?"
She glanced at him.
"I didn't know it would be this cold."
Dry.
A pause.
Then—
without another word—
he pulled off his jacket.
Held it out to her.
"…wear this."
Valentine blinked.
"…you're giving me your jacket?"
Suspicion.
Confusion.
"What if you catch cold?"
He exhaled sharply.
"You talk too much."
Flat.
"Just wear it."
She didn't move.
Still staring.
"I don't have time to deal with you getting sick."
A beat.
"Precaution is better than cure."
His tone—
annoyed.
Dismissive.
Like this meant nothing.
Valentine slowly took the jacket.
Still unsure.
It was warm.
Warmer than it should've been.
She put it on.
It was bigger on her.
The sleeves slightly long.
For a moment—
neither of them spoke.
Snow continued to fall.
Quiet.
Cold.
And somewhere between the silence—
and the distance—
something shifted again.
Not softer.
Just…harder to define...
And then—something changed.
The snow had started settling now.
Thin.
Slippery.
Their steps slowed slightly.
The chain between them dragged lightly across the ground—
a quiet reminder.
Valentine walked ahead—
a little too fast.
"…slow down," Artavius said.
"I am walking normally."
"You're not."
"I am."
The ground shifted.
Her foot slipped.
And before she could react—
"—wait—"
She lost balance.
The chain yanked tight—
—and pulled him with her.
Both of them went down.
Hard.
A sharp thud against the snow-covered ground.
"…what the hell?"
Artavius pushed himself up slightly—
clearly annoyed.
"You can't even walk properly?"
Valentine turned her head toward him—
offended.
"It was a mistake."
"A stupid one."
"Oh, really?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"If you're so good at walking—"
she shot back—
"why did you fall?"
A pause.
Artavius looked at her.
"…we're chained."
Flat.
Like it was obvious.
Valentine blinked once.
"…right."
A beat.
Then—
very casually—
"Then open it."
Artavius froze.
Slowly turned his head.
"…what?"
She gave him the most innocent look she could manage.
"If it's the chain causing problems…"
A small shrug.
"…remove it."
Silence.
He stared at her.
Unamused.
"…nice try."
Valentine exhaled.
"Worth a shot."
They stayed there for a second longer—
on the cold ground—
snow falling lightly around them.
He stands first.
Brushes the snow off slightly.
Then—
without looking at her much—
extends his hand.
"Get up. You're wasting time."
She looks at his hand for a second.
Suspicious.
Then takes it.
They enter the villa—
Artavius's phone vibrates.
He checks it.
His expression changes.
Slightly.
Dangerously.
Valentine notices.
"…what happened?"
A pause.
Then—
"…plans changed."