A Target on Her Back

Evelyne's breath came shallow, her heartbeat hammering in her ears. The weight of Azrael's words settled like a stone in her chest.

"Now, you are a threat."

Her fingers curled tightly around the ancient book, its leather binding pressing into her skin.

A threat.

Not just to her father. Not just to Azrael.

But to something far older.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet Azrael's piercing golden gaze. "Then tell me everything."

Azrael studied her, his expression unreadable. "Not here."

The room suddenly felt suffocating, as if unseen eyes were watching—listening.

Evelyne hesitated. "Then where?"

Azrael turned away, moving toward the shadows beyond the throne. A part of the stone wall shifted under his touch, revealing a hidden passage.

Her breath caught. She had spent days in this fortress and never once suspected a hidden path here.