2025-09-04 04:18:19
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Chapter Thirty-Eight – The House in the Woods
The estate was quieter than anything Lana had ever known. No humming traffic, no restless city noises, not even the faint whistle of a passing train. Only the wind in the trees, brushing against the stone walls like an old memory.Her room was grand in a way that didn’t try to impress — dark wooden beams across the ceiling, a heavy four-poster bed, a single lamp burning low. The linens smelled faintly of cedar and lavender, and though the walls were thick enough to hold back the world, sleep refused to come.She pushed back the blanket and stood, her bare feet silent against the polished floorboards. The window opened onto the woods, the moon caught in the net of branches overhead. For a moment, the night felt almost gentle. Almost.Then she caught her reflection in the glass — pale, restless, the chain of the locket gleaming at her throat. It looked heavier now than it had on the plane, as though the house itself deepened its weight.A soft knock came at her door.She startled, then
Chapter Thirty-Seven – Across the Divide
The private jet cut through the clouds like a blade, the hum of its engines a low, steady rhythm beneath the silence in the cabin. Lana sat by the window, her reflection caught in the dark glass, the vast Atlantic stretching endlessly below.She hadn’t asked where in Europe they were going — not exactly. Grey had only said, “Somewhere they won’t expect us yet.” And she’d let it stand, because she wasn’t sure she could handle any more truths tonight.The chest sat secured in a steel case across from them, strapped tight to the floor. Its presence was a weight in the room, heavier than the leather seats, heavier than the distance stretching between her and Grey.Seraphine sat a row back, perfectly still, her arms folded across her chest, eyes closed as if she were sleeping. But Lana had seen the way she’d scanned the tarmac before boarding, the way her fingers brushed the inside of her coat where a weapon surely rested. Rest was a luxury Seraphine never allowed herself.Grey hadn’t said
Chapter Thirty-Six – The Line We Cross
The penthouse, with all its glass and sharp edges, no longer felt like sanctuary. The firelight still burned, but its warmth seemed swallowed by the storm brewing inside Grey’s eyes.He shrugged into his jacket with a precision that came from years of control, years of training himself to never let an emotion linger. Yet Lana could see the weight in the way his hand paused — just a second too long — at the lapel, as though he wanted to stay, to hold onto the rare moment they’d allowed themselves.Lana pressed her fingers to the locket beneath her blouse. “Where are you taking me?”“Somewhere they can’t touch you,” Grey replied, his voice clipped, already calculating.“You’ve said that before,” she countered softly. “And they keep finding us.”Seraphine reappeared from the balcony, her hair swept back by the night wind, expression taut with something between worry and anticipation. “They’re moving faster than expected. The watchers aren’t just mercenaries anymore. Someone’s bankrolling
Chapter Thirty-Five – Glass and Firelight
The city skyline shimmered beyond the penthouse windows, every lit tower casting its reflection across the dark glass. Lana stood near the edge, still wrapped in Grey’s coat, the scent of leather and faint cologne lingering like an anchor after the chaos.She hadn’t spoken much during the drive back. Her hands were steady now, but only because she’d kept them clenched around the locket the entire way.Grey crossed the room silently, setting the chest on the polished marble table between them. The gleam of brass caught the firelight from the wall-mounted hearth, throwing gold across his face.Seraphine lingered near the door, scanning the street below through the narrow gap in the curtains. “We weren’t followed. For now.”“For now isn’t good enough,” Grey replied without turning.Lana’s voice broke the quiet. “How many more of them will come?”Seraphine looked over her shoulder. “Enough to make tonight look like a warm-up.”Grey met Lana’s eyes. “That’s why we move fast. Before they re
Chapter Thirty-Four – The Vault Below
The tunnel narrowed again, forcing them to move single file. Grey took the lead, scanning ahead with the dim lantern while Seraphine kept watch behind, her blade still wet at the edge. Lana’s hand brushed the cold wall as she followed, her pulse still racing from the fight.She hadn’t stopped thinking about the way the mercenary had looked at the locket. Not fear. Not confusion. Recognition. Whoever sent them knew exactly what she carried — and why it mattered.The passage bent sharply to the right, and then it appeared — a heavy steel door built into the stone, the edges reinforced and lined with rivets. Its surface was marked with faint scratches, as if someone had tried and failed to force it open.Seraphine stepped forward, running her fingers over the metal. “This is it. The vault.”Grey’s eyes scanned the door. “Keyed entry?”“Not exactly,” Seraphine said, nodding toward Lana. “It opens for her.”Lana blinked. “What?”Seraphine gestured to the locket. “That isn’t just jewelry. I
Chapter Thirty-Three – The Men in the Dark
The tunnel narrowed as they moved, the air growing heavier with the scent of stone and damp earth. Lana stayed between Grey and Seraphine, her fingers brushing the cold wall to keep balance. The lantern light swayed with each step, throwing uneven shadows across the engraved markings in the rock.Grey moved with practiced precision, every sense sharp. He didn’t like the silence — not because it was calming, but because it felt too perfect, as if someone had cleared the space for them to walk right into a trap.“What’s at the end of this?” Lana asked quietly.Seraphine’s eyes flicked back at her. “An old vault. And if the watchers—” She stopped herself, correcting — “If they’ve sent people, they’ll be waiting for us.”“People?” Lana’s voice wavered slightly.“Hired,” Seraphine said simply. “The kind you don’t negotiate with unless you’re holding something sharper than a pen.”Grey’s jaw tightened. “Armed?”“Always.”They pressed on.The first sound came as a metallic click — faint, but
