로그인“No. We all respect the First Believer. However these people take advantage of that and come here to use the pills we package for their own good.”“Hmm… that’s horrible. All the hard work is just going down the drain like that?”He shrugs, an effortless, tired motion. “There is nothing we can do about it.”“And it’s not like they’re fighting. Why do they take so much?”“Fighting?” He snorts. “They use it to get high. They have a mix for it, they are the ones who discovered it. That is why they’re being treated like kings and no one opposes them.”“Oh… can anyone use it?”“Only the truly determined who have gone beyond their limits.” He says it like he’s reciting doctrine from a myth.“O-Kay.” I bite back another question and sink back into the rhythm of folding and sealing. The room hums: clinks of metal, low conversation, the slap of hands on packets. I press my senses out the way I always do, careful, scanning for unusual signatures.‘They have blockers.’ Ezra warns in my head.‘Now
ELDON’S POV“Nox, was it? Come with me,” Tattoos orders curtly, already brushing past Roman and me. His voice carries that gravelly tone of someone who’s used to being obeyed.Roman and I exchange a glance. We anticipated this. “Levine, I guess you’re with me.” The guy in shorts, the questioning one from before, crooks a finger at Roman and heads toward a door concealed behind a fallen curtain. If I hadn’t seen it move, I’d have sworn they vanished into thin air.I reach for the bond instinctively, brushing against Roman’s energy. His heartbeat is steady, his emotions calm and focused. Good. He’s fine. I let out a quiet breath and turn back to my handler. Time to play my part.“Where are we going?” I ask, feigning uncertainty.“Where do you think? More packaging!” Tattoos snaps, voice echoing down the dim corridor. “That’s all we do here.”“So there are other places for other things?” I probe lightly. “Like manufacturing?”“Yes. Although we don’t know where it is,” he grumbles. “We j
I look at Eldora, then nod once before going in first. My boots thud softly against the steps as I descend, hand brushing the cold concrete wall. When I reach the bottom, I scan the room, senses stretched thin for danger. Nothing but the hum of low electricity and distant voices. I reach through the bond. You can come down. Watch your step.She joins me a moment later, her footsteps light but steady. Together we move down a long, narrow hallway. The further we go, the stronger the red glow becomes like we’re walking into the belly of something alive. It reminds me too much of my sight when I was cursed.I swallow hard. “Let’s finish this fast.”“Are we going in the right direction?” Eldora asks behind me.I glance over my shoulder, a smirk tugging at my mouth. “If I knew, wouldn’t you be surprised?”She snorts softly. “I wouldn’t put anything past you.”A few more steps and then we reach it. The half-open door ahead, pouring out crimson light so bright it floods the corridor like bloo
The clock ticks faintly in the background. Somewhere outside, the wind stirs against the tall windows of his office, carrying the faint scent of rain and paper.If we’re right, and this is how they’re distributing it now… then by the time anyone catches on, it’ll be too late because there will be more variants. That was exactly Fredrick’s idea back then; to disguise the wine under numerous names. It would be something no one would question. I don’t know if Roman has joined hands with them in this lifetime but if history repeats itself, we’re already behind.Finally, Roderick exhales, voice steady but grim. “I’ll get people on it. Wine is a lot easier to disguise than drugs.”Roman sits forward. “Is there anything I can do?”“I want to help too,” I add quickly, my pulse rising.Roderick’s gaze shifts between us, assessing. Then he nods once, slow and deliberate. “There is. I’ll need you both to go into another hideout. We have reason to believe they’re storing a pill stash somewhere in
The two of them talk and think the same way. It’s amazing to see. Nicolas has mentioned that my Aunt and I act the same way sometimes. So this is what it looks like.“They don’t know there are two different grades of pills,” I whisper, the realization sinking like a stone in my stomach.Roderick nods, expression grim. He opens a drawer and retrieves two sleek black cases, placing them gently on the desk. The click of the clasps echoes in the silence. Inside each case lies a small pill; identical in shape and color but not in scent. Even from here, I can tell one smells sharper, almost metallic, while the other has a faint sweetness that curls uncomfortably in my chest.“There have been more rogue cases recently,” he explains. “In unexpected places, and to unexpected people.”“Unexpected people?” Roman asks before I could. “The believers could be anybody, right?”“Yes, but in most of the first rogue cases, those who took the pill voluntarily and had reasons to seek that kind of power.
“Oh my goodness.” I rush forward before I can stop myself. “Please, raise your head.”He does, straightening to his full, commanding height.“I have to do at least this much to show my gratitude. Roman means a lot to me.”His words are gentle, sincere but they cut deep, sliding a knife straight through my chest and twisting it. How can parents be so vastly different? My throat tightens, but I manage a small, polite smile instead of words.Roman must feel the ache through our bond because his arm comes around my shoulders, his thumb rubbing slow, comforting circles against my skin. I lean into his touch just slightly.“Come,” Roderick says, motioning toward the center of the room. His tone is steady, dignified. He leads us deeper into his office, if you can even call it that.The space is enormous, easily thrice the size of any Alpha’s command room I’ve ever seen. The air smells faintly of leather and cedar, and the soft hum of magic lingers in the walls. One side of the office is almo







