Liam took a step forward, his eyes narrowing as Emma’s words echoed in his mind. He couldn’t shake the growing tightness in his chest, the heavy churn of dread in his gut. There was more—he could feel it.
He asked, his voice low and tense, "What about Ann?"
Emma paused for a mont, then looked back at both Liam and Lana with a softness in her eyes, like she was holding sothing fragile in her hands.
"When Ann ca to ," she said slowly, "she was hellbent on not marrying Prince Boris. She didn’t care about the company’s debt or what her parents said. All she kept repeating was that she had a man she loved... and that no matter what happened, she wouldn’t be with another."
Liam stood there frozen, the air in his lungs tightening. Every word hit him like a hamr to the chest. His hands slowly clenched into fists by his side.
Of course she didn’t want this. Of course she resisted. It was exactly what he always suspected but never dared to hope—Ann had never turned her back on him. She was forced into all of it.
He swallowed hard and took a step closer. "Then what changed?" he asked. "If she was so determined, why did she suddenly agree to the engagent with Boris? What made her flip like that?"
Emma’s face darkened. "The sa thing that happened to her parents."
Lana tilted her head. "You an the visit?"
Emma nodded solemnly. "Boris went to see her. Alone. No one else was present. It was just him and Ann in a private eting. I don’t know what happened inside that room, but the very next day..." she let out a bitter breath, "...she was suddenly all in. She started talking about duty. About fulfilling expectations. She even told to stop bringing up the man she loved—it was like she forgot he existed."
Liam’s eyes burned with intensity. "You’re saying he used sothing on her."
Emma gave a stiff nod. "That’s my guess. Sothing like mind control. So kind of science—tech, drugs, I don’t know. I an, it has to be. Because no one just changes like that overnight. Especially not soone as stubborn and passionate as Ann."
Lana frowned deeply, her arms crossed tight over her chest. "He’s doing sothing to their minds..."
Emma looked at them both, then at Liam directly. "Whatever it is... you have to help her. Please. She’s not herself anymore."
And with that, she turned around and opened the door. Liam took a step toward her, but she was already pulling the handle.
"I have to go," she said quickly. "But I’ve told you everything I know."
She glanced at him one last ti. "Just... don’t let her down, Liam. She really did love you."
Then she shut the door and disappeared down the hall in a rush.
Silence settled in the room like a thick fog.
Lana glanced at Liam, who stood there frozen, staring at the closed door. His jaw was tense. His thoughts racing.
Emma had been close, but she didn’t know the full truth.
"Mind control science..." Lana muttered. "She really doesn’t know, huh?"
"No," Liam said, turning toward her slowly. "She doesn’t."
He crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, his mind connecting the dots. Emma was right about one thing—Boris was controlling people. But not with machines or drugs.
Powers. That was the answer. Exogens.
Liam rubbed his temples. "He’s using powers. Real ones."
Lana sat beside him. "So he’s an Exogen?"
Liam nodded slowly. "Has to be. So kind of ntalist. He’s making people think things. Believe things. Maybe even rewriting their mories."
Lana’s expression darkened. "That’s dangerous."
Liam looked down at his hands. "And terrifying."
There was a long pause. Lana stood up and walked to the balcony door, her arms crossed. She stared outside, the light breeze pressing against the glass.
Then she turned back to him, her expression unreadable. "What do we do now?"
Liam was about to answer, his mouth opening to tell her exactly what he thought: that she should stay out of it, that it was too dangerous, that she needed to keep herself safe.
But she was faster.
Her brows snapped together and her voice cut through the room like a blade. "Don’t say it."
Liam blinked in confusion. "Say what?"
Lana walked toward him, stopping only a foot away. "Whatever you were about to say. ’Stay behind.’ ’Let handle this.’ ’You should be safe.’ All that protective crap." Her voice was low and tight, full of restrained anger. "Don’t."
Liam was stunned. It was the first ti he’d seen her angry—truly angry. Not teasing. Not frustrated. Just raw, fire-lit rage under control.
"You think I can’t see it?" she said. "The way you look at when things gets a bit dangerous? Like I’m a glass doll that needs to be hidden away."
Liam opened his mouth to explain but stopped when she raised her hand.
"Stop worrying about every damn second," she snapped. "I’m not just so girl you sleep beside. I’m your partner. Who’s gonna watch your back if you keep pushing away?"
Liam sat in silence. He wasn’t used to this version of her. Not because she was wrong—she wasn’t. But because it hit him harder than he expected.
She wasn’t scared. She was ready.
He scratched his eyebrow, sighing as he finally relented. "Fine," he said quietly. "But first sign of life-threatening danger... I’m getting you out. No questions asked."
Lana stared at him for a mont longer, then... just like that, she smiled. As if her anger had never existed.
"Fair enough," she said with a shrug.
"Grab your coat," Liam said sharply.
Lana blinked in surprise, halfway through tying her hair up. "Now?"
He didn’t answer. He was already grabbing his keys and striding toward the door.
She didn’t waste ti asking again. Whatever switch had flipped in him, she knew it was serious. She snatched her coat from the hanger and followed him out without a word. he was quiet, focused, jaw clenched tight as they stepped into the car. Lana barely had her seatbelt on before he gunned the engine.
The tires peeled against the pavent, the engine growling low as they weaved through the streets. Liam drove fast—dangerously fast—but always just under the radar. Not fast enough to draw a police stop, but fast enough that Lana could feel his urgency.
She didn’t need to ask where they were going.
She knew.
The sa place where the party was held. The mansion. The last place he had seen Ann.
When they arrived, Liam killed the engine and stepped out slowly. His blue eyes narrowed as he stared at the giant black gates that lood over them like the mouth of a beast.
But sothing was off.
Way off.
There were no guards.
Liam’s jaw tensed. Last ti they’d co here, security was crawling around every corner—polished suits, silent movents, cold stares. Now? The place was eerily deserted. Quiet. Too quiet.
He scanned the area thoroughly. No movent. Not even a hint of footsteps or shadow.
"Where the hell are the guards?" Lana muttered beside him, her voice low and sharp.
Liam didn’t answer. He moved closer to the gate and saw the thick chain wrapped around the handles. He reached up, gripping it between his hands, ready to snap it in half with sheer force—but then paused.
No. Too loud. Too obvious.
Breaking a chain on private royal property? That was a sure way to bring sirens screaming within minutes. Even if no one was here now, the sound would travel. And he didn’t need more enemies showing up.
He turned to Lana. She was already watching him, waiting.
Without a word, he wrapped his arm tightly around her waist and leapt.
Over the fence in a single, fluid motion. Silent. Precise. His landing was soundless, as if the air itself cushioned their fall.
Lana barely had ti to register the movent before she was standing on the other side of the gate beside him, stunned.
Inside.
And that’s when it hit them.
That sa ancient feeling. The exact sa pulse of sothing sacred, old, and unknown that they had felt the night of the party. It crept into their skin like cold mist, raising goosebumps along their arms, prickling at the back of their necks.
Lana inhaled sharply. "Do you feel that?"
"Yeah," Liam muttered. "Sa as before."
Whatever power or energy this place held, it wasn’t normal. It was thick, old.
Liam shoved the sensation to the back of his mind and focused.
No distractions.
They were here for Ann.
He moved toward the front door, Lana close behind, and with every step, the silence grew heavier. The mansion stood still and waiting, like it knew they had co back.
Liam reached out his hand toward the door.
****
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