Location: Underground holding cell, Vairo estate safehouse.

The walls were sweat-slick concrete.

No windows. No mercy.

Dani sat chained to a chair, leg wound still bleeding through a soaked bandage. Her face was pale, bruised. But her eyes? Still defiant.

Ember stepped into the room.

Lucien followed. No guards. No mirrors. Just them and a traitor wrapped in secrets.

“I never pegged you for a coward,” Ember said calmly.

Dani spat blood. “You don’t know me.”

“I knew ...