Chapter 261

Agnes

The heavy metal door slammed shut behind us with a resounding clang, making both Thea and me jump. I pressed Thea to my side and held her tight. But despite my terror, I couldn’t help but stare in awe at what was inside the facility.

It was startlingly modern inside, almost bordering on something from a science fiction film. Pristine white corridors stretched out in every direction, illuminated by bright lights. The floor beneath our feet was polished to a mirror-like shine, makingour reflections stare back at us as we walked.

It made my fucking skin crawl.

“Keep walking,” one of the guards said gruffly, prodding me forward with the barrel of his gun.

Thea’s small hand squeezed mine tighter as we moved deeper into the complex. Her palm was sweaty against mine, but her grip remained firm. I glanced down at her, and my heart broke at the determined set of her jaw, the way her eyes darted around, taking in every detail just as I was. No eight-year-old should have to be this brave, this composed in the face of danger.

But what choice did we have? My wolf had made it crystal clear—Thea would wind up here one way or another. The thought of her being brought here alone, frightened and without me to protect her, was far worse than this.

As we walked, we passed by a series of large glass windows that looked into various rooms. What I saw made my blood run cold.

Inside the first room, a young man was standing in the center of what appeared to be a testing chamber. His arms were outstretched, and water swirled around him, defying gravity. Scientists in white lab coats stood at the edges of the room, taking notes, adjusting dials on complex machinery. The man’s face was blank, empty, his eyes unfocused. A thrall already, perhaps, or just exhausted from being trapped here.

The next window revealed a woman with sparks crackling between her fingertips. Unlike the man with water, she was fighting, screaming silently behind the glass as she tried to direct her fire toward the scientists. They seemed unconcerned, observing her like she was nothing more than an interesting specimen.

Room after room revealed similar scenes—elementals of all types being poked, prodded, tested. Some had that vacant look the first man had, while others were struggling against restraints.

And then my heart stopped. There, behind another glass panel, were at least a dozen children, ranging from Thea’s age to perhaps thirteen or fourteen. They were sitting in what looked like a classroom, but instead of learning math or reading, they were being taught to manifest their elemental abilities. A boy at the front of the room was trying to produce a small flame in his palm while an instructor watched.

As we continued through the facility, I took careful note of everything around us. Two guards at that junction. A security panel beside that door. Cameras in every corner. Ventilation shafts approximately every fifty feet. Emergency exit signs pointing down a corridor to our left.

If we needed to escape, I wanted to know every possible route.

The corridors seemed to stretch on forever. I tried to create a mental map, but it was difficult to keep track of all the turns. Left, right, straight ahead for about a hundred yards, then right again.

“Stop here,” the guard finally said, halting in front of a black door. Unlike the other doors we had passed, this one had no window, no way to see what waited on the other side. The nameplate beside it simply read “Director.”

My stepmother.

Two guards flanked the door, both men with stern expressions and guns at their hips. I studied them carefully as we approached. The one on the left was older, perhaps in his fifties, with a hard set to his jaw. The right guard was younger, maybe thirty, and looked distinctly uncomfortable. His eyes darted between Thea and me.

But when his eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I saw a flicker of something there. Uncertainty? Doubt?

I stared at him, trying to communicate without words. I’m not the enemy. Your boss is. His eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly before he looked away.

That was interesting. Maybe some of the guards here weren’t completely loyal to my stepmother. I filed that information away, another potential advantage I could use when the time came.

The guard escorting us knocked on the door. “The intruders, ma’am,” he called. “As you requested.”

“Send them in,” came the muffled reply from inside.

The door slid open, and the guard pushed us forward. I stepped into the office with Thea still held firmly to my side.

The office was exactly what I’d have expected from my stepmother. A massive desk dominated the center of the room, with floor-to-ceiling windows behind it showing the vast underground cavern that housed the facility. Artificial lighting mimicked daylight, illuminating the sprawling complex below. It was like looking out over a small city, built entirely beneath the earth.

When the hell did she have time to build all of this? Without anyone noticing, no less?

My stepmother was already waiting for me behind her desk. Her lips curved into a small, satisfied smile when she saw us—the look of a predator who has just watched their prey walk willingly into a trap.

And beside her, standing slightly to her right, was my father.

His eyes widened when he saw us, a flash of genuine shock and terror crossing his face before he could hide it. He hadn’t expected us to actually come here. Or perhaps he’d expected us to take his advice and destroy the facility from the outside rather than walk straight into the lion’s den.

I gave him a subtle but meaningful look, trying to convey without words that I would need his help. That this was all part of a plan. His shoulders tensed slightly, and I knew he understood. At least, I hoped he understood. I hoped he would stop being a coward for five fucking minutes of his miserable life and help his daughter and granddaughter.

“Agnes,” my stepmother said, leaning back in her chair, “what a surprise. And you’ve brought my favorite granddaughter too. How thoughtful of you.”

I resisted the urge to spit in her face. “She’s not your granddaughter,” I said instead.

“Semantics.” She waved a dismissive hand. “What I’d like to know is why you’re here. Surely you didn’t think you could just walk in and… what? Save the day? Kill me? Please tell me you’re not that naive.”

“I came with a proposal,” I said, forcing the words out through gritted teeth. Every instinct in my body was screaming at me to attack her now, to burn her to ashes where she stood. But I couldn’t risk it. Not yet. Not with Thea here and guards all around us.

My stepmother raised an eyebrow. “A proposal? How intriguing. Do tell.”

I took a deep breath and lifted my chin. “Promise not to hurt me or Thea, and I will willingly provide my services as a fire elemental in the war that is to come.”

My stepmother stared at me for a long moment, searching my face as if searching for a lie. I kept my face neutral, refusing to give her a single scrap of satisfaction.

Then, slowly, her mouth curved into a smile.