eline

n, I had to secur

ed a small, run-down bakery. Inside was Beryl, my adoptive mother, th

nly the essentials. Take the underground transport to the safe house

absolute determination in my golden eyes

ted, my last tie to the

in an abandoned barn, strapped the tactical backpack tightly

ess than twen

ping my silver hair. But as the towering steel spans of

halogen high-beams

ompletely sealing the bridge entrance. Dozens of elite warriors clad in

etic suppression net dropped out of the night sky, pinning me to the asphalt. A

y eyes, my head

of a parked armored SUV. I sat up abruptly, my hand instinc

as g

d, velvety baritone sound

ight of the cabin, swirling a glass of bourbon, was the m

fingers, flipping through the silver mine deeds

g a beat as panic and fury warred in my ch

dark eyes locked onto mine, his voice

d me," the man murmured, tossing the leather folder

me?" I hissed, my White Wolf blood boiling.

en. "You can leave this vehicle now. But without my permission, you are not al

eavy doors slammed shut, and the armored convoy roared away into

The city borders were sealed. And Hortense would undoubtedly continue to hu

ut being a sacrificial lamb,

rectly to the