“How could that be possible?” Adam spread his hands, his tone calm though his insides were tightening like a coil. “I’ve already used up all my poison syringes. You searched me from head to toe. Even if I wanted to poison you, where would I get it from? I don’t have anything left.”Selena’s gaze was still sharp, her suspicion refusing to fade.Adam forced a smile, masking the nervous thrum of his heart. “If you don’t trust me, then fine. I’ll take two more sips in front of you.”With that, he steeled himself. His fingers tightened on the bowl, and he lifted it to his lips. The liquid burned slightly as it slid down his throat, heat spreading instantly to his chest and stomach. He fought the urge to wince and swallowed twice—two large gulps, more than his battered body should have tolerated.He set the bowl down slowly, controlling his breathing. His body screamed in protest, his blood heating unnaturally fast, but his face remained composed.Finally, Selena’s suspicions wavered. She g

The aphrodisiac Adam had concocted from the medicinal herbs was no ordinary brew. It was potent, carefully balanced, and designed to gnaw at even the strongest cultivator’s self-control. Selena had drunk far more than she should have. Adam knew it was only a matter of time before the drug surged through her body, dulling her sharpness, clouding her mind, and leaving her vulnerable. That window would be his only chance to break free.For now, he kept his expression composed, his voice steady.Selena, meanwhile, leaned back in her seat, her lips curling into a dangerously sweet smile. “You’ve misunderstood me, Adam. I never intended to kill you in the first place. Once you tell me the secret, I’ll let you go. You can fend for yourself outside. Live or die—it’ll be up to fate.”Adam’s eyes narrowed. He knew better than to trust honeyed words. “You need to swear it,” he pressed, his tone unyielding.The temperature in the car dropped instantly. Selena’s smile froze, and irritation flared

Meanwhile, Adam lay on the forest floor, chest heaving, his body drenched in sweat. Every muscle ached from the ordeal. The exhaustion pressing down on him was bone-deep, yet there was also an odd exhilaration humming through his veins. For the first time in weeks, he felt a fleeting sense of release. His eyelids grew heavy, begging him to surrender to sleep.But a sudden thought struck him like a blade of cold steel, snapping him awake. He forced himself upright, his breath ragged as he glanced at Selena.She lay beside him, her expression peaceful, her breathing steady. In repose, stripped of her usual sharpness, she looked almost angelic. Her fair skin glowed faintly under the dappled moonlight, her figure elegant and tempting. For a dangerous moment, Adam felt a pull, an instinct to lean back down, to indulge again.He clenched his jaw and tore his eyes away. Idiot. Don’t let lust blind you. That woman is poison wrapped in silk. Sooner or later, she’ll gut you without hesitation.

Adam moved like a shadow. The cave’s mouth shut behind him, swallowing the last of the dawn light, and he stepped into a world that already believed him dead. That lie was his advantage now—every heartbeat they spent searching the wrong places bought him time.He didn’t rush. He worked with the same measured patience that had rebuilt his body. From the underbrush he gathered bitter leaves, powdered bark and a clay the color of old parchment. He crushed, mixed, smelled; every motion was practiced, economical. In the end he pressed the paste over his face and let it set.The transformation was small magic. The mask, crude to anyone else, blurred the sharp planes of his face and softened his eyes into the dull gray of an ordinary middle–aged man. Tiny cracks and manufactured age lines, the suggestion of a sunburn—Martins Blackwood had taught him to trust suggestion. A master of disguise didn’t try to become someone else so much as to become forgettable. Adam had learned that lesson well.

Adam stayed quiet, his gaze lingering on the basin of water and the robe neatly folded on the bed. His body ached for the comfort of a proper wash, yet a dark thought gnawed at him. The moment he stripped down, the moment he stepped into that bathroom, the woman could bolt for the door and raise the alarm. One scream, one word, and he’d be cornered like a rat.He clenched his fists. Trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.But the woman, sensing his hesitation, lowered her voice and said softly, “You can trust me. I won’t betray you. If I stay here too long, they’ll notice. That alone would put me in danger, don’t you see?”Her tone was calm, but her eyes flickered with fear. Adam studied her face for a long, silent moment, then finally gave a curt nod. “Alright. I’ll believe you… for now. Thank you for helping me. I’ll repay this debt one day.”It was a promise spoken with conviction, but the woman’s lips curved in a faint, doubtful smile. In her eyes, Adam was nothing more than a desp