Chapter 109Ariel’s POVI tried again, and again, and again.Nothing. No word, no sound, no response. Nothing, right after nearly ruining my world.No call went through. Not to the number that just called me, not to Dermos.Again and again, nothing.My hand trembled as I pulled the phone away from my ear, staring at the screen like I could force it to change, like I could will it to connect just by needing it badly enough. My chest felt too tight, like the air around me had thickened, pressing in, suffocating me.“Pick up,” I whispered, already hitting the button.It rang.Once.Twice.Then silence. The line cut again.“No,” I whispered, and the word came out sharper this time as panic bled through. I started pacing without realizing it, my bare feet cold against the floor as my mind ran faster than my body could keep up with.He wasn’t picking up. Dermos wasn’t picking up.Something was wrong—something must have already gone too wrong.Luciana stood not too far off, but even she ha
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