Morning arrived without softness, stripped of any gentleness that usually came with dawn. The sky over Viktor’s estate was a pale, bruised gray, heavy with clouds that refused to either break or rain, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Liana had not slept. She lay on the bed fully dressed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, listening to the subtle sounds of movement beyond the walls—guards changing shifts, low murmurs through radios, the quiet readiness of a house preparing for war without calling it one.When the knock finally came, it wasn’t abrupt. It was controlled. Respectful.“Liana,” Viktor’s voice came through the door, calm but unmistakably alert. “It’s time.”Her heart gave a sharp, painful lurch, but she sat up immediately, smoothing her jacket as if the simple act could steady her nerves. When she opened the door, Viktor stood there already dressed, his movements careful but determined, his injury hidden beneath dark clothing that made him
Last Updated : 2025-12-22 Read more