Kane's internal struggle was visible on his face—duty warring with love, professional obligations battling protective instincts. For a moment, I thought I'd lost him again to his fear-driven withdrawal, that his walls were too strong to breach."I can't," he admitted, his voice breaking with suppres
The secure medical facility was exactly what I'd expected—a prison disguised as a treatment center, designed to warehouse inconvenient people under the guise of providing care. My room was comfortable but locked, the windows were barred, and guards monitored my every movement with professional detac
Dr. Morrison arrived the next morning with a clipboard full of assessment forms and an expression of professional concern that didn't quite hide his bias. Raymond had clearly briefed him thoroughly on the "situation," and his mind was already made up about my condition.The morning sunlight streamin
For just a moment, confusion flickered across Raymond's features. Some buried part of his consciousness seemed to be struggling against the magical conditioning, trying to process my warning about his own safety.But the moment passed quickly, replaced by renewed anger and suspicion. The conditionin
The house arrest began immediately, with guards posted outside my quarters ostensibly for my protection but actually to ensure I couldn't continue my investigation or contact potential allies. My room became a prison, comfortable but confining.Raymond arrived within hours to formally explain my new
Professional distance was the only weapon I had left. If I could maintain my credibility with Raymond while secretly working to keep Aurora safe, maybe I could find another way to expose Giana's conspiracy before it was too late.But watching Aurora's face as I maintained my silence was the hardest