Chapter Thirty-Six: Shadows of the Past

Elena's fingers tightened against the book's worn cover. The weight of what she'd just seen sat heavy in her chest.

Her name. Written in the same ancient ink as Leon's.

It didn't make sense.

She swallowed, trying to steady herself. "Leon, you need to explain. Why is my name in this book?"

Leon's expression darkened, his gaze dropping to the closed pages beneath his hands.

"I told you," he said quietly. "This isn't just my story."

Elena shook her head. "That's not an answer. You knew this was in here, didn't you?"

He hesitated. "I suspected."

"Since when?"

Leon let out a slow breath, his eyes flickering toward the candlelight. Shadows stretched along the walls like ghosts of an untold past.

"Since the moment I saw you," he admitted.

A chill crept up Elena's spine.

What did that mean?

Before she could ask, he finally pushed the book toward her. "You want the truth? Then read."

Her pulse pounded as she slowly flipped the pages, searching for something—anything—that could explain why her name was written in a book that looked centuries old.

Then, she found it.

The Woman in the Shadows

The passage was written in the same archaic script, but her eyes caught onto key phrases.

A woman lost to time. A fate tied to the blood of the immortal. A name whispered through generations.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"Elena," she murmured.

Her name wasn't just a coincidence. It had meaning.

She looked up at Leon, dread creeping into her voice. "This book… it's talking about me, isn't it?"

Leon didn't answer. He didn't need to.

The look in his eyes said it all.

Before she could demand more, something shattered in the distance.

A sound—sharp, sudden—echoed through the manor.

Leon was on his feet in an instant. His body tensed, his gaze snapping toward the door.

Elena's breath caught. They weren't alone.

Something had just interrupted their discovery.