LOGIN"Run!" Seraphina's command echoed across the plateau. The group sprinted toward the ruined observatory. Gunshots cracked through the mountain air. Bullets struck ancient stone, sending fragments flying in every direction. Elyra's heart pounded wildly. Zevarion's hand gripped hers firmly as they ran. He never let go. Not once. The observatory loomed before them. Massive. Ancient. Weathered by centuries of wind and snow. Yet somehow still standing. As if it had been waiting. Waiting for them. Behind them, Cassian's forces continued advancing. Methodical. Relentless. Like hunters closing in on wounded prey. Victor glanced back and nearly tripped. "I would like to formally announce that I hate cardio." Damien grabbed his jacket and pulled him forward. "Keep moving." "I'm moving!" "You were running sideways." Victor pointed dramatically. "I was evaluating escape options." Nobody had time to argue. The group reached the observatory entrance just as another gunsh
The world seemed to stop.Cassian's words echoed across the mountain plateau."The real question is why your memories were erased twice."Silence.Absolute silence.Nobody moved.Nobody breathed.Elyra felt as though the ground had vanished beneath her feet.Twice?Her memories had been erased twice?Not once.Twice.The realization was impossible to comprehend.Beside her, Zevarion's expression darkened immediately."What do you mean?"Cassian smiled.The kind of smile that made people uncomfortable.The kind that appeared when someone knew a secret nobody else did."You still don't understand."His gaze remained fixed on Elyra."Your first memory erasure happened when the families separated the children."Nobody spoke.Because that part they already suspected.Cassian took another step forward."But the second one...""...was done years later."The mountain air suddenly felt freezing.Elyra's heart pounded.Years later?Who would do that?Why?Then another memory flashed through her
The mountains fell silent after the gunshots.For one brief moment, nobody moved.Nobody spoke.The note remained in Zevarion's hand.Its warning seemed heavier than the weapons pointed at them."If Elyra remembers, the vault must never be opened."The words echoed through everyone's minds.Especially Elyra's.Because suddenly, the mystery wasn't just connected to her.It revolved around her.Why?What had she forgotten?What could possibly be so dangerous?Another gunshot echoed through the mountains.Closer.Much closer.The sharp sound snapped everyone back to reality.Seraphina immediately stepped forward."We need to move."Damien nodded."Now."Nobody argued.Not even Victor.The group quickly left the stone archway behind and continued up the narrow mountain path.The climb became steeper.More difficult.Sharp cliffs rose around them.Ancient pines swayed in the cold wind.Mist curled across the rocks like ghostly fingers.The entire mountain felt alive.Watching them.Waiting
The forest seemed endless.Dark trees stretched in every direction.Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting silver shadows across the ground.The group moved quickly.Nobody dared slow down.Not with Cassian's people searching the area.Not with the sound of engines occasionally echoing in the distance.Every snapped twig.Every rustling leaf.Made everyone tense.Made everyone listen.Made everyone wonder if they had been found.Again.Victor stumbled over a root.For the third time."I would like to officially file a complaint against forests."Damien didn't even look at him."Denied."Victor sighed dramatically."Nobody respects my suffering."Despite everything, a few tired smiles appeared.Only briefly.But enough to ease the tension.For a moment.Then Seraphina stopped.Everyone immediately froze.The woman studied the horizon.The first hints of dawn were beginning to appear.A pale glow beyond the distant mountains.She pointed toward them."There."The group followe
The forest clearing became deathly silent.Dozens of weapons were aimed at them.The armed figures stood in perfect formation behind Cassian.No hesitation.No fear.No mercy.Moonlight reflected off metal barrels and silver insignias.The danger was real.Immediate.Deadly.Elyra felt her pulse racing.One wrong move could end everything.Cassian looked almost relaxed.As though he already considered the situation won."The Origin Vault."He smiled."Thank you for confirming it exists."Seraphina's expression hardened."You already knew.""Suspected," Cassian corrected."Now I know."The distinction made everyone's stomach drop.They had just given him exactly what he wanted.Information.Proof.Direction.Victor sighed dramatically."Wonderful.""We continue accidentally helping the villain."Even Damien couldn't argue with that.Then Cassian took a step forward."Hand over the coin."Nobody moved.Nobody answered.Cassian's smile disappeared."The coin."His voice became colder."T
The forest clearing fell silent.Only the sound of wind moving through the trees broke the stillness.Everyone stared at Seraphina Vale.The head of the First Family.The woman they had spent days searching for.And now......the woman who had just said something that made no sense."The First Family isn't what you're looking for.""The First Family is what they're running from."Zevarion narrowed his eyes."What does that mean?"Seraphina's gaze briefly shifted toward Cassian.For the first time since arriving, something close to concern appeared in her eyes.Not fear.Concern.As though time was running out.As though events were moving faster than expected.Cassian folded his arms.Looking thoroughly unimpressed."You can explain if you'd like."A dangerous smile appeared."It won't change anything."Seraphina ignored him.Her attention returned to Zevarion.Then Elyra.The sight of them standing together seemed to affect her.A strange sadness crossed her face.Gone almost immedia
“Zevarion…”The way she said his name changed the entire atmosphere between them.Something in his expression shifted immediately.Not dramatic.Not obvious.Just enough for Elyra to see it.That control he carried so carefully around her?It was slipping.And somehow, realizing that made her heart
The moment his hand tightened against her back, Elyra stopped breathing for half a second.Not because the movement was rough.Because it wasn’t.It was controlled.Gentle.Deliberate.And somehow that made it worse.The crowded hall around them blurred into distant noise while Zevarion held her ju
“You look incredibly bored.”Elyra glanced at the stranger standing beside her, trying to keep her expression polite despite the fact that she was suddenly very aware of Zevarion across the room.Watching.Closely.The man extended his hand smoothly. “Rafael.”“Elyra.”His smile widened slightly. “
Elyra spent far too long deciding what to wear that evening.Which annoyed her.Because normally, she didn’t care this much.She stood in front of the mirror staring at the dark emerald dress laid across the bed behind her, arms crossed lightly while arguing with herself internally.This was ridicu







