Each of them was a mirror. Each of them was a version of me that had been "tamed," "broken," or "emptied" by the man they belonged to.
They weren't just Architects. They were the casualties of a war for immortality.
I found myself back at the end of the hallway, leaning against the cold stone wall. My body was still sore from Kaelen's reclamation, the physical evidence of his "love" still lingering in my marrow. I thought of the way he had looked at me—that bittersweet, crushing love. Was it real? Or was it just the same predatory instinct Livia had warned me about?
"When they pretend to be weak, they trap you with your own mercy."
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I jumped, my heart nearly leaping out of my chest.
It was Valeria. She was dressed in her tactical gear, her face unreadable.
"You shouldn't be here, Seraphina," she said softly. "The Master is waking up. If he finds you here... it will trigger a response he can't control."
