Beneath Her Charm

h narrow alleys and deserted streets. Dare's breathing was labored, his muscles burning with exhaustion. Each step felt he

ice barely above a whisper as she mo

s. Blackthorn, Elena, and now this group of strangers who seemed to hold fragments o

e carried himself with the practiced ease of someone who h

" Dare finally asked, his

dable. "A place they can't easily track

es. "Great. Anothe

n't you?" Ivy shot

a sound that grew louder with each passing second. Iv

eir tracks, tension cra

whispered, his vo

ildings, her body coiled like a spring ready to snap. The sc

buzzed into view, its red ligh

ling Dare into the shad

alls. Dare's heart thundered in his chest as the drone hovered overhea

is voice barely audible. "They'v

are muttered, h

e an eternity before it finally zipp

d, her voice

llowed by the night. Dare's lungs burned, and his legs

a nondescript building at the edge of the city. Ivy punched

ordered, ush

concrete walls and dim lighting. It wasn't much, b

s face pale. "We can't keep this up. They

taying here isn't an option. We need t

n a war he didn't understand. He clenched his fists

muttered, more to hi

e snapped to hi

er. "I'm not a soldier or a spy or whatever t

one cutting. "You think any of us wanted to

firm. "Dare has a right to be fr

voice low and menacing. "But it will be. He'

their words sank in. He was in over his h

ow?" he asked, h

with Ivy. "We need to fin

u're assuming sh

. "She has to be. She's the

twisted. "And

but the grim look in

air thick enough to cut with a knife. Ivy and the scarred man kept watch wh

t about Elena-the mysterious woman who had upended his life in a

int sound of footsteps echoing down the

and Ivy appeared, her

d, her tone softer than

he weight of everything that had happened-and everythin

aring up at the cracked ceiling

no turning