Chapter 469:

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His gaze settled on me. “You will come with me, but first.” I said nothing. “You will receive your enhancement.”

My stomach tightened.

“You will become stronger than you have ever been, and when the time comes, you will stand beside me when Moonstone falls.”

I kept my expression calm. Inside, my mind was already racing. He believed I would help him destroy Moonstone. He was wrong, but I needed him to keep believing it.

The Chimera stepped closer. “Prepare yourself.” His smile was almost pleasant as he walked toward the door. “The physicians will begin your process soon, and then we will bring Olandria home.”

The door closed behind him.

𝖢𝗁𝘪nе𝘀е 𝗇𝗼𝗏e𝗅s 𝘵r𝖺𝗇𝗌𝘭𝗮𝘁𝖾𝗱 o𝘯 𝗀𝗮𝘭𝘯оv𝖾𝘭𝘀.𝘤𝗼𝗺

Mitch was the first to speak. “Alpha.”

I looked at him.

“Are you afraid?”

I almost smiled. “Why ask?”

“Because your hands are shaking.”

I looked down. He was right. I slowly curled my fingers into a fist. “It’s nothing.”

Mitch tilted his head. “You’re lying.” Then his eyes moved toward the door. “They are going to enhance you.”

“Yes.”

Mitch was quiet for a moment. “What if they kill you?”

I looked at him. His fingers tightened. “We should leave.”

I met his gaze for a long moment. “It’s too late.”

I turned toward the dark passage. Then my eyes fell on my hand again. The ring. For a moment, I could almost feel its weight against my finger.

Mitch’s eyes narrowed. “You think Nero found it?”

“He should have. Otherwise, we’re in trouble.” I looked toward the passage again. “He has to understand what the ring means before he does anything.”

I looked back once. Please, Nero. Tell me you found the ring. Tell me you showed Remi and she understood.

Because if he had, then at least one person outside this den knew where I was.

And if he hadn’t, I was completely alone.

Remi POV

I woke before the sun with Nero’s arm wrapped heavily around my waist. His breathing was slow against the back of my neck, warm and steady, and the quiet was so complete that I could hear the wind moving through the trees outside.

Then memory returned: everything we had left behind and everything waiting for us when we returned.

I turned carefully in Nero’s arms and found him already awake, watching me through the darkness.

“You’re awake,” I whispered.

“I have been for a while.” His thumb moved slowly over my waist. “Watching you.”

I smiled faintly. “This is becoming a thing.”

“I don’t see a reason to stop.”

I studied his face. There was something different about him this morning. He looked relaxed, but a heaviness lingered behind his eyes that hadn’t been there yesterday. I pushed myself up slightly. “Nero.”

“I promised you two nights.”

My heart gave a small, unexpected flutter.

“And I’ve only given you one.” A smile slowly appeared on my face. “I keep every promise I make to you.”

Before I could answer, a loud knock sounded against the cabin door.

“Are you both awake?”

Caya.

I covered my face. Nero calmly buttoned his shirt. “She sounds pleased.”

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