MORNING LIGHT

Morning broke slowly, its pale light creeping through frost-lined windows like a hesitant visitor.

Adelina stirred beneath the blanket, her body sore in ways that reminded her she was still alive. Still capable of warmth, of desire, of connection—despite everything. She blinked up at the ceiling, golden light catching the corners of the room in quiet reverence.

Nathan was already awake, seated at the far end of the bed, his back to her. Barefoot, shirt wrinkled, fingers loosely holding a steaming mug of coffee.

The air was still. The storm had quieted overnight, leaving behind a world cocooned in white.

For a moment, she allowed herself the illusion of peace. Then reality crept in.

The voice from the radio. The reactivation protocol. The way Nathan's expression had changed when he heard it.

Adelina sat up slowly, pulling the blanket tighter around her. The room still smelled faintly of last night: firewood, sweat, shared breath. It should have comforted her.

But instead, it made her feel exposed.

He turned slightly. "You okay?"

She nodded, though her voice felt caught in her throat.

"I don't regret it," she said, before she could talk herself out of it. "What happened between us."

Nathan set the mug down, then turned fully toward her.

"Neither do I."

"But... I need to know it wasn't just because everything's falling apart."

His expression softened. "It wasn't. You're not a reaction to chaos. You're a choice."

She looked down, heart pounding.

"But it changes things."

"Yes," he agreed. "And not just between us."

He stood and crossed to the dresser, retrieving a folder from a hidden compartment in the back of the drawer.

"What's that?" she asked, sliding to the edge of the bed.

Nathan handed it to her. "The next layer of truth."

The folder bore a familiar mark—one of the old Blackstone crests, sealed in wax.

Inside were surveillance images, intercepted messages, and a report dated several months ago.

Adelina flipped through slowly. Elena's face stared back at her from several angles—public meetings, private gatherings, encrypted communication logs.

"She's been in contact with someone inside the corporate board," Nathan said. "Someone feeding her information. She's not just trying to help you—she's making moves."

Adelina looked up sharply. "Moves?"

"She's building a case," Nathan explained, "to undermine the family's control of the company. If she can prove unethical experimentation—specifically what was done to you—it'll collapse everything."

Adelina felt the chill return, crawling up her spine. "She said she wanted to free me."

Nathan nodded. "Maybe. But freedom can be weaponized. If the public finds out what happened to you—what you are—they won't see a victim. They'll see a liability. Or worse."

Adelina clenched her jaw. "You think she's using me."

"I think she's using everything. You, the truth, the scandal. And in the middle of it, you're the only one without a plan."

Adelina closed the folder. "Why didn't you show me this sooner?"

"I wanted to believe she cared about you. I really did. But after last night... after what you told me, I realized something."

"What?"

"You're not safe on anyone's side. Not hers. Not Viktor's. Not even mine, unless I choose you above everything else."

Adelina stood and crossed the room to him.

"And do you?"

Nathan didn't flinch. "I do."

For a long moment, they stood in silence, the past and present folded between them like layers of snow. Outside, the sky brightened.

Nathan's phone buzzed. No signal earlier. But now, it came alive.

He answered instantly.

A voice filled the room—muffled, urgent.

"Sebastian?" Nathan asked.

Adelina's breath caught.

The voice was strained. "We have a situation. The board's convening an emergency session. Someone leaked partial logs. The press is already circling. You need to get back—now."

Nathan's eyes darkened. "How bad is it?"

"They're painting her as unstable. Dangerous. They've twisted Elena's files. This isn't just damage control anymore, Nathan. It's war."

Adelina stepped forward. "Is my name out there?"

Sebastian's pause was answer enough.

"It's not just your name," he said. "It's your origin. Everything."

Adelina's knees weakened.

Nathan caught her by the arm, steadying her.

Sebastian's voice lowered. "You need to come home, both of you. Before Viktor takes control of the narrative."

The line went dead.

Nathan lowered the phone slowly. His jaw was tight.

Adelina's mind raced.

"My life just went public," she whispered.

He met her eyes. "We have to face it now. Together."

She nodded.

Then the power flickered again.

Not just a brief outage.

The entire estate groaned as something surged through the walls.

Nathan turned toward the breaker panel instinctively.

Then stopped.

A low humming filled the air.

Adelina felt it first. A tingle beneath her skin. Like electricity, but deeper. Familiar. Terrifying.

She looked at Nathan.

"What's happening?"

He stared at her, dread dawning in his eyes.

"They activated it."

"Activated what?"

He stepped back.

"You. The protocol. They're trying to wake... the rest of her."