“Are you sure you want me to come with you?” Ethan asked as he slipped into the driver’s seat of the Lamborghini, glancing over at Joy.She was already buckling up. “Yes. You practically changed my entire life overnight. The least you can do is back me up when your people freeze my account.”Ethan frowned. “My people?”Joy held up her phone, flashing the bank’s message. “Bank of Dominion. They froze my account over ‘suspicious activity.’ Said I had to come in for verification.”Ethan cursed under his breath and pulled out of the hotel lot. “Didn’t even cross my mind they might do that. I should’ve warned you.”“Guess they weren’t used to seeing seven zeros pop up out of nowhere,” she said, smirking.The ride was smooth, quiet except for the occasional buzz of the city outside. But Ethan’s mind wasn’t. He was thinking about Clandestine, Marcus, the Society, the Jade necklace that had a voice now, and somehow, even Joy.Joy kept stealing glances at him, still trying to wrap her head aro

"She’s a descendant," Klaus said, his voice low and steady.Ethan blinked. "Of who?""The witch who forged the Jade Necklace. Her name was Seraphina. A pureblood mage. She made the necklace with the intention to heal, to grant power to the weak. But it was corrupted by men. And I was the first fool to wear it."Ethan stared at the ceiling, barely breathing. "So Joy . . . she’s . . . what? A witch?""Not exactly. Her blood is diluted. Generations removed. But the magic is still there. It slept in her family line, dormant. And your, ah, little entanglement with her must have stirred it. That’s why I can speak now."Ethan rubbed his temples. "So you’re saying my one-night stand triggered ancient magic and woke up the ghost in my necklace. Great.""You’re welcome," Klaus said dryly. "The question is, what are you going to do with this knowledge?"Ethan didn’t answer.Weeks passed. Ethan did what he could to act normal. He attended council meetings, reviewed budgets, signed off weapons shi

The morning sun streamed through the massive windows of the manor’s east wing, making everything feel deceptively warm and peaceful.It wasn’t.Anna moved briskly down the hallway, her clipboard clutched so tightly her knuckles had gone white. She had no real reason to be on that side of the house—except to check if Ethan was free. Or just . . . catch a glimpse of him.Pathetic, she told herself.She was so lost in thought, she didn’t notice Isabella until the woman stepped directly into her path."Anna, isn’t it?" Isabella’s voice was sweet—too sweet.Anna stopped, her heart stuttering for half a second. "Yes?"Isabella smiled. The kind of smile a cat gave a mouse just before it played with it."You've been looking awfully tense lately," Isabella said, circling her slowly. "Jealousy does that to a woman."Anna froze, gripping the clipboard harder."Something on your mind?" Isabella tilted her head, studying her. "Maybe . . . feelings you shouldn’t have?"Anna swallowed, her voice tig