glow of the artifact pulsed faintly through her bag, its strange, rhythmic light the only reminder of why she was running in the first place. The event

ighter, pulling it closer to her chest as if the proximity alone could protect her. But nothing could shield her from the weight of what sh

pered, her voice barely audible

h Valerian? Was it greed that drove him, or something more sinister

didn't come from her surroundings, nor from her ow

andr

female, neither comforting nor threatening. It was just ther

king her head. "I'm not

t run fro

, her knuckles turning white.

deeper into her bag and adjusted the strap over her shoulder. She couldn't stay here.

ew quieter the farther she went, the bustling nightlife giving way to abandoned buildings and overgrown lots. She fin

her legs trembling from exhaustion. The warehouse w

beautiful in a haunting way, its edges sharp and flawless, its glow unnatural yet mesmerizing. But it

hispered, her voice t

. Cassandra sighed and set it down on the crate beside her. Sh

d through the warehouse, faint but deliberate. Cassandra's eyes

, her voice firm despite the

the shadows, hands raised

said, his tone

ower her blade. "H

ing a few feet away. "I wasn't sure

after Julian stabbed me in th

d. "Yeah. A

y with tension. Finally, Cassandra l

Rowan?" she asked

ou," he sa

Like Julian helped me? Forgive

irm. "I didn't know he was going to betr

ld I beli

said. "And because I had the chance to take that a

been quiet, more of a follower than a leader, but there was something differ

inally. "But if yo

e interrupte

loosen. "Then you'd better start talking. What

I do know he's been meeting with someone in secret for weeks now. I thought it

rking with Valerian for weeks, that meant the

?" she asked, more to

just want control-he wants domination. And Juli

n's not stupid. He has to know V

e's desperate

Desperation made people

is," Cassandra said. "If Valerian wants it

Agreed. Do you

library beneath the city. If this thi

lancing toward the warehouse entrance.

o her bag and stood, her exhaustion pus

she said, le

ng that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder but saw

r problems to deal with-problems that would on