Clara’s face instantly tightened. The mention of her brother’s name felt like a physical strike. She thought rapidly for a tense, silent second, weighing her options. But she knew the sheer scale of Valthera’s power. If she partnered with a regular human cop, Esther would be slaughtered within hours."I can't help you," Clara replied coldly.Esther’s expression turned cold. She leaned across the table, her voice dropping into a deadly serious threat. "Listen to me, Lancaster. When the time comes to finally take down the Council, and all those freaks you work for... if you are standing in my way, I will personally put a bullet right through your brain. I have dedicated my entire life to bringing them down. You might as well go down with them."Clara didn't flinch. She stared directly into the detective’s eyes, her voice completely devoid of fear. "I said no. Now let me go."Esther stared at her for a long, quiet moment, searching Clara's face for any sign of weakness. Seeing none, she

Three hours later, Valthera’s eyes slowly fluttered open. The violent, burning fever had finally left.Kane and Clara were standing right above her bed, their faces pale with worry."What happened?" Clara asked immediately, stepping closer. "Valthera, you just blacked out in the middle of the fight. Your temperature skyrocketed."Valthera pushed herself up against the pillows, her movements stiff. She let out a sharp, dismissive breath. "It is nothing," she said, brushing the question off coldly. She flared daggers at Clara, warning her not to step closer.But Clara wasn't foolish. She watched the slight tremble in the older woman’s hands. She knew something was definitely wrong. A 300-year-old legendary warrior did not just collapse from a simple spell.Suddenly, the heavy doors of the medical bay burst open. The loud, arrogant clicking of expensive leather shoes echoed against the tile floor. It was Carl Lin, the Phoenix Heir. He had already received word about the disastrous ambush

When Clara arrived back at the estate, she walked straight into Valthera’s private office. The air was filled with tension. Valthera sat behind her desk.Standing in the center of the room was Thomas, one of their brutal enforcers, and he was dragging a beaten, bloody old man by the collar of his shirt.The old man collapsed onto the rug, gasping for air."Who is he?" Clara asked, stepping into the room and closing the heavy door behind her."He was the officer on watch duty for our skies tonight," Thomas growled, wiping a splash of blood from his knuckles. "The enemy was able to fly right into our territory and steal the safe because this piece of trash turned off the radar. He has been totally compromised. Someone paid him off."Valthera leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "So, are you ready to talk to us now?"The old man was breathing hard, his ribs shaking under his torn shirt. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," he wheezed, spitting blood onto the floor. "

Clara dragged Bernard’s heavy, unconscious body across town, tossing him into the back of the car. They drove until they reached a dark, secluded alleyway far from the main streets. Clara hauled him out and shoved him against a brick wall. Above his head, a broken drainpipe was spilling cold rainwater down from the roof. She pushed his head directly under the pouring stream.Bernard nearly choked on the water, and jerked awake. He scrambled backward in absolute terror, his hands scraping against the dirty concrete.When he wiped the water from his eyes, he saw Clara hovering over him like a vengeful demon in the shadows. He looked around wildly, his heart hammering against his ribs. He could not recognize this dark place."Who are you?" Bernard shrieked, his voice cracking. "What do you want from me?" He tried to find his usual arrogance. "Do you have any idea who I am? My father will have your head for breakfast if you touch me!"Clara leaned in close, her eyes completely cold. "A

The chanting voices inside the cathedral became louder and louder. The crowd of wealthy criminals, corrupt politicians, and underworld elites was completely out of patience. They stamped their feet against the stone floor, demanding to see the foundation of their power."Open it! Open the safe right now!" they roared in unison.The pressure in the room finally broke the Council’s unity. They unanimously agreed that they could no longer wait for Valthera's permission.Carl Lin, the Phoenix Heir, stepped forward from the crowd. His expensive leather shoes clicked loudly against the marble stairs as he marched straight onto the main stage. He shoved past the guards, his face twisted in absolute arrogance."Step aside, Valthera!" Carl shouted, pointing an angry finger at her. "I don't know what kind of game you are playing, or what you are trying to hide from us, but we are opening the safe this very second!" He turned around to face the roaring crowd, raising his arms. "Look at her! We a