Semua Bab The Human Luna's Goodbye: Bab 161 - Bab 167

Elara's POVOrion didn't say much, just handed the letter over to Samuel without a word, his face unreadable in the dim hallway light. Celeste, who'd been sitting on the couch downstairs crying, came toward us instead, hollowed out with despair, her steps unsteady, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding something together by force."Whatever you're angry about, come at me for it," she said, voice thin and shaking. "If you want my treatment patent, take it. All of it. I won't fight you for a single piece of it, I never wanted the credit that badly. But why would you let Sterling get my daughter killed?" Her voice cracked. "Don't tell me this was unintentional. It can't be. Not with everything else that's happened tonight."I had no idea what to do with that, the accusation landing somewhere I couldn't quite process yet. I looked to Orion instead, hoping he could make sense of what I clearly couldn't.He explained. The kidnapper had already ca

Elara's POVHearing Orion say that, I actually felt myself relax a little, tension I hadn't realized I was carrying easing just slightly out of my shoulders. It at least meant Celeste had finally gotten what she wanted, which meant she'd probably leave me alone going forward. I took Samuel's hand and got into his car. We drove toward an abandoned factory somewhere past the edge of the city, out where the streetlights thinned out and the road turned to gravel.On the way, Samuel had his acting beta, Rowan, mobilize a portion of Golden Crown's forces as backup, coordinated with whatever Orion was bringing separately along the same route. He called Orion himself to let him know, keeping the conversation short and businesslike. Orion just mocked him through the phone anyway."That's what incompetent men do, isn't it? Call for backup." Orion's voice was pure contempt down the line. "My Argent could tear his throat out in one bite, no army required, no strategy needed

Elara's POVI didn't bother with Orion anymore. Samuel's phone buzzed with a confirmation text right then, the transfer complete. He looked at Weston."Money's in your account. Cut the bombs. We're leaving."Weston laughed like they were old friends catching up. "Samuel, your idea of modern weapons is a little outdated. Who defuses anything anymore?" He pressed a button on the small device in his hand, and the countdown displays on both bombs stopped cold. He looked entirely pleased with himself. "Just toss them somewhere. Like an old backpack you don't need."Both of us were disgusted by him, the casual cruelty in his tone somehow worse than the bombs themselves had been.Even fairly sure it was safe now, Samuel still pushed me back, moved Sterling and me to a farther distance, and went alone to toss the defused explosives aside.I'll admit, watching his hand touch that thing, my heart nearly stopped in my chest, every muscle in me locked t