Chapter 191The room plunged into darkness the moment I blew out the candle. Everywhere went into total darkness, and all I could hear was the faint breath of my enemy, and then… silence.My heartbeat slowed. This wasn’t fair. It was focused.He moved again.A shuffle to my left—barefoot. Light, fast. He wasn’t just skilled—he was trained. Probably ex-military. Or worse… council-born.I ducked instinctively, my body reacting before my mind even caught up. His blade swung in the air above me, slicing through where my neck had been just a second earlier.I used my crouch to launch myself forward, shoulder slamming into his torso. We both went down hard, grunting. His knife scraped my ribs—just a scratch. I could feel a drop of blood trickle down my side. He rolled, swift and silent, and I let him go. I didn’t want to kill him. Not yet. Not until I got answers. Not until I know who sent him to get me. I stood and reached for the switch on the wall. With a quick flick, the emergency li

Chapter 193The knife was still warm in my grip, slick with blood. I wasn’t shaking anymore. I was past fear. Past doubt. Past everything, really. This man had come into my home to end me, and instead, he was the one bleeding out on my rug, whispering about world domination and the end of humanity like it was just a normal thing.I stepped forward again, ready to push harder, make him break—really break. “Are you daring me?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous. The light caught the edge of the blade as I tilted it. One more word. That was all it was going to take.But the word never came.The window shattered.A sharp crack split the air, piercing through the tension like a gunshot—because it was one. A red mist burst from the side of the man's skull before I even registered the sound fully. His body jerked once, then collapsed backward like a puppet with its strings cut.I froze. Everything in me turned to ice.“ZEE!” I shouted instinctively, dropping low, my heart hammering as glass

Chapter 195I knew what I was asking of Park. A part of me feels bad about it, but I don't have any choice. He was the only person I knew I could ask for help. With him right beside me, I know we could move mountains. All I needed was for him to say the single words I have been dying to hear him say all day. I held her small frame in my arms for a moment longer than I should have. Her innocence clashed violently with the storm brewing in my mind. Park’s little sister—bright-eyed, full of life—deserved peace. Not the kind of horror I was about to drag her brother into again.“Wow,” she whispered, stepping back with a grin. “You look like you’ve been through a war.”I gave her a smile. “Something like that.”“She doesn’t know anything,” Park said quickly, his tone protective. “And I intend to keep it that way.”Zee gave me a long look but said nothing. She knew what I was thinking—what I was about to ask Park would risk that bright smile ever gracing this room again. And still, I co

Chapter 197 I still don't know what I saw, and I can't explain how I was able to see the past. Everything felt unreal. “How do you get to know all of this?” I asked, staring at Park, who was now relaxed. “Do you think I spent my days relaxing after I left you?” he replied, staring at me. “What do you mean?” “I went into intensive research. I needed to know more about the powers we have. I needed to know if we are a threat to the world or not. I need to be sure there were no side effects.” Park said, staring at me. “Is there?” I looked at him. My heart was beating steadily, like I was expecting my death sentence. Zee was also concentrating as her eyes darted back and forth between the two of us. “Why don't we talk outside?” Park finally said, getting to his feet. His eyebrows were slightly arched, and I knew there was something he was not telling me.Maybe he didn't want to tell because Zee was there, but I believe he was going to let me in very soon. “Give us some time. We wi

Chapter 199When will it end? When was I finally going to have peace of mind? Was any of this going to be over? I tried to tell myself that all of this was going to stop, to come to an end, but it kept happening even after I thought I could handle it all. The force of the blast shook the entire house, rattling the windows and throwing us all to the floor. Smoke and dust filled the air, burning my throat as I coughed and scrambled for balance.“Get down!” Park roared, dragging his sister with him as a second explosion went off somewhere outside, closer this time.I tried to look around, to see where it hit, but I couldn't. Elira was already moving, barking orders to her men. “Positions! Cover the exits!” Her voice cut through the chaos like a whip, but my ears were still ringing.I grabbed Zee and pulled her behind the overturned couch. “Stay here,” I told her, but she clutched my shirt with trembling fingers.“I’m not letting you—” She was about to finish her words when another b