ELENA

I hated being ordered, but the thought of fainting and being physically removed from this room was worse. I unwrapped the bar and took a deliberate, slow bite. The bland taste of oats was like ash in my mouth.

“Tell me about the creature,” Julian instructed, his eyes finally shifting back to Caleb’s face, assessing his color. “I need a clearer profile of the toxin mechanism. Describe the creature, Elena. Everything.”

I swallowed the dry mouthful and focused on recalling the ...