CHAPTER 47

Vera’s POV

Pain dragged me back before consciousness fully did.

The kind that settles deep into your bones and refuses to leave. My head throbbed, heavy, my body slow, like it didn’t belong to me anymore. For a few seconds, I stayed still, eyes closed, breathing shallow, trying to figure out where the hell I was without giving away that I was awake.

The surface beneath me was cold. Metal.

My wrists were restrained. Not rope. Not cuffs I could twist out of. Something tighter. Cleaner.

My eyes opened slowly.

White lights above me, too bright, too sharp. The kind that made everything look sterile. Controlled.

A facility.

Something twisted violently in my chest.

No.

No… no—

I jerked against the restraints before I could stop myself. The metal bit into my skin instantly, sharp enough to make me suck in a breath. My muscles protested, weak but not useless. I tested it again, slower this time.

No give.

A quiet sound echoed to my left. Footsteps.

I turned my head.

And froze.

Kael.

He was a few feet away, restrained the same way, arms pulled back, secured against a steel frame. His head was lowered slightly, dark hair falling over his face, shadows cutting across his expression.

For a second, something in my chest steadied.

Then he moved.

Slowly.

His head lifted, eyes opening, and the moment they found me, something dark settled in them. Not relief.

Rage.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice rough but steady.

I swallowed, forcing my throat to work. “Unfortunately.”

His gaze moved over me quickly. Assessing. Checking. Making sure I was still in one piece.

“I told you not to wander,” he added.

I let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. “Yeah, because this is clearly my fault.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, not amusement.

Then the door opened.

Both our heads turned at the same time.

A man walked in.

Older. Well-dressed. Calm in a way that didn’t belong in a place like this. His steps were unhurried, his gaze already on us like he had been expecting this moment for a long time.

And the second Kael saw him—

Something changed.

Not fear.

Recognition.

“…You,” Kael said quietly.

The man smiled.

Not warm. Not kind. Just enough to make it worse.

“Kael,” he said, like he was greeting family. “It’s been a long time.”

My gaze snapped between them. “You know him?”

Kael didn’t look at me.

His eyes stayed locked on the man. “You are dead… how?”

The man chuckled softly, stepping closer.

Something cold slid down my spine.

“…Who is he?” I asked.

This time, Kael answered.

“My uncle.”

The word felt wrong the moment it left his mouth.

The man tilted his head slightly, amused. “Still using that title. How sentimental.”

I stared at him. Then at Kael. Then back again.

This was the enemy?

This calm, controlled man standing there like he owned the air we were breathing?

“You’re behind this?” I said.

His gaze shifted to me for the first time.

“And you must be Vera.”

The way he said my name made my skin crawl.

“I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Save it,” I snapped. “I’m not interested.”

He smiled again.

“I expected that.”

He moved closer.

Too close.

Close enough that I could see everything in his expression. The calm. The calculation. The complete absence of anything human.

“You’ve grown,” he said, almost thoughtfully. “Both of you.”

Kael’s voice cut through, low and sharp. “Get away from her.”

The man didn’t even look at him.

Instead, his hand came up—

And before I could react—

He grabbed my jaw.

Hard.

Not enough to break, but enough to hurt. Enough to force my head up.

Pain shot through me instantly. My fingers curled against the restraints, muscles tightening.

“Let go,” Kael said.

Each word sounded controlled, but barely.

The man finally glanced at him.

“Still protective,” he murmured. “Interesting.”

Then—

He tightened his grip.

I didn’t make a sound.

Wouldn’t give him that.

His eyes studied my face like I was something he was trying to understand. Or remember.

“Do you know what you are?” he asked quietly.

I held his gaze.

“I’m the person who’s going to kill you,” I said.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Then he laughed.

Actually laughed.

“Good,” he said. “That’s good.”

And then—

He hit me.

Hard.

My head snapped to the side, pain exploding across my cheek, my vision blurring before snapping back. Blood filled my mouth instantly, metallic and warm.

Kael moved.

Not fully, he couldn’t, but the force behind it made the restraints strain.

“Don’t,” he said.

It wasn’t a warning.

It was a promise.

The man turned to him slowly.

“And what exactly are you going to do?” he asked calmly.

Kael’s eyes burned.

The man watched him for a second, then smiled again.

And walked over.

Right into his space.

“Let’s see if you’re still as strong as you think you are.”

Then—

Without hesitation—

He drove his fist straight into Kael’s ribs.

The sound was dull. Solid.

Kael’s body jerked slightly, breath leaving him in a controlled exhale, but he didn’t make a sound.

Didn’t give him that.

Again.

Another hit.

Same spot.

Harder.

I pulled against my restraints, muscles straining. “Stop—”

He ignored me.

Hit.

Again.

Again.

Each one precise. Measured. Like he knew exactly where to hurt without killing him.

Kael’s jaw tightened, his head dipping slightly, but his eyes never left the man’s face.

Hatred. Sharp. Unfiltered.

“Still holding on,” the man murmured. “Impressive.”

Then he grabbed Kael by the collar, forcing his head up.

“Tell me,” he said quietly. “Do you remember where you came from?”

Kael didn’t answer.

So he hit him again.

This time across the face.

Blood.

My chest tightened. “Leave him alone!”

The man sighed, almost bored, and turned back to me.

“You’re both disappointing,” he said.

Then he stepped back, calm again.

Like he hadn’t just done that.

“Take them down,” he ordered.

The door opened immediately.

Men walked in.

My stomach dropped.

“What are you doing?” I snapped.

No one answered.

They unlocked the restraints—

And before I could react—

Hands grabbed me.

I fought.

Kicked.

Twisted.

Tried to break free—

But this time, they were ready.

Pinned my arms.

Forced me down onto another surface.

Straps. Tighter. Colder.

I turned my head.

“Kael—”

They had him too.

Forced down. Restrained again.

His eyes found mine.

Still burning.

Still there.

"Don’t react,” he said quietly.

I almost laughed.

Too late for that.

The man stepped forward again.

“Let’s begin,” he said.