Soft light slowly roused Kerrigan from her dream. The bed was warm and she snuggled closer to the heated pillow.ThumpThump, thumpKerrigan lay there, her body wrapped around the warm pillow as its heart beat steady beneath her head.Heart…Beating…Kerrigan slowly opened her eyes to find she had somehow made it from the couch to a bed she didn’t recognize. That wasn’t unusual these days. After all, she had been changing beds every few weeks it seemed ever since the murder attempt.But this was the first time she had woken up to someone else in bed with her.Ok, not the first time… but she had nearly punched Conor that time and he had not actually been IN bed with her. More ON the bed, waking her up.However, right now, it was very clearly NOT her pillow that she was sprawled across. Bare skin met her fingers as she felt this NOT pillow.Kerrigan’s mind slowly cleared as she became more aware of her surroundings. The soft, rhythmic thumping beneath her ear was unmistakable—the steady
Conor sat in the back of a black sedan, parked inconspicuously a few blocks from Dragon Corporation’s headquarters. From his vantage point, he and Parker had a clear view of the building’s front entrance, where he patiently waited for Theo Bryant, one of Dragon Corporation's board members, to emerge.Theo had been on Kerigan’s radar because he always struck her as a reserved and cautious man—someone who avoided the spotlight and rarely engaged in the power plays that consumed the other board members.But since returning, she had noticed something off. He was too compliant, too eager to align himself with Kelan’s reckless decisions. There was a desperation in his actions that didn’t fit the man Kerrigan had known for nearly six years.Today, it was Conor’s job to find out what he did when away from the office.Theo emerged from the building right on schedule for his daily lunch. His tall, slightly stooped figure was easy to spot. He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, but there was
At the top, Conor found a door left slightly ajar. He slipped inside, his senses on high alert as he moved down the dimly lit hallway, Parker close behind. The smell of stale air, dampness, and something acrid filled his nostrils, the sounds of the city outside muted by the thick, grime-coated walls. He could hear muffled voices coming from one of the rooms ahead and crept closer, careful to stay in the shadows.Peeking through the doorway, Conor saw Theo standing in the middle of a small, cluttered room. The place was a mess—clothes and empty food containers strewn across the floor, the wallpaper peeling, the furniture mismatched and worn. It was the sight of the young woman on a pallet of blankets on the floor that caught Conor’s attention.She was thin, her skin pale and her dark hair a tangled mess. She looked to be little more than a teen or maybe her early twenties, her eyes sunken and dull.She was curled up under a blanket, her body trembling as she pulled it tighter around h
The aroma of takeout filled the hotel suite as Conor and Parker opened boxes of food for the evening debrief. The soft murmur of conversation came from the dining room where Kerrigan and her guards had settled into their usual spots.Conor handed Kerrigan a warm bowl of noodles and meat before settling into his spot next to her at the dining table, the days notes spread out before them.Tonight, however, was different. Natalie had joined them for dinner, making it the first time Conor had the opportunity to spend time with her outside of brief professional setting at Kerrigan’s office.As they ate, Conor found himself smiling at Kerrigan as they discussed the days wins, their arms occasionally brushing against each other as they reached for food.It was a small, almost imperceptible contact, but it sent a warm, electric current through him each time. He noticed the way Kerrigan leaned ever so slightly into his space, her body language open and relaxed, as if she was unconsciously see
Conor nodded in agreement. “I was thinking the same thing. We can’t just grab her and expect her to comply willingly. Maybe we could use Theo’s influence—he’s the one person she might listen to.”Natalie spoke up, her voice thoughtful. “Theo’s influence is important, but I think we’ll need more than just his word to convince her. Emily’s been through a lot, and trust isn’t something she’s going to give easily. If we can find a way to connect with her on a personal level, maybe we can show her that leaving Velyki is in her best interest.”Kerrigan tapped her fingers on the table, deep in thought. “Maybe we could use the idea of a fresh start. Emily’s been trapped in the same cycle for years, and even Reilynn here hates the cold of Velkyi—maybe if we present Jinstain as a place where she can truly start over, with warmer weather, and nice people, it might appeal to her.”Conor glanced at Kerrigan, their arms brushing lightly against each other. “That could work. We could frame it as an
Kelan Benedict leaned back in his leather chair, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the opulent office around him. He had made it, rising from his father’s shadow to a position of power within Dragon Corporation. The board had given him free rein to “restructure” the company, and he had wasted no time in asserting his authority, cutting away “excess weight” with a ruthless efficiency.To him, the layoffs and downsizing were proof of his capability, a demonstration of his ability to make tough decisions that lesser men would shy away from.Not only that, but he had freed up some much needed capital for his own pet project. He dreamed of commissioning his own cruise ship from which he could conduct business and bask in the ocean all in the same day.The Tortuga Cruise liner would be his crowning achievement once things settled down here. It would only cost a few billion to build such a floating city, and he had just freed up nearly four times that.While Dragon C
Kelan snorted, dismissing the concern with a wave of his hand. “Brantley’s a non-issue. A small-time businessman who got lucky. He may have Kerrigan’s ear for now, but she’ll come around once she sees what I can offer. Besides, she’s too busy trying to keep her head above water with all the changes I’m making.”“Don’t underestimate him,” Zadok warned, his tone sharp. “I have not been able to confirm their connection, but he carries the name of priestess Rainna. He could hold one of the Dragon soul stones—Celia’s in fact, if Rainna was really his mother. That alone makes him a threat, no matter how insignificant you think he is.”Kelan’s smile faltered slightly at the mention of the soul stones. He had heard the legends, the whispers of the power they held, but he had always dismissed them as just that—legends. Yet, the way Zadok spoke of it made him pause, if only for a moment.“I’ll deal with Brantley if he becomes a problem,” Kelan said, his voice lacking the confidence it had carr
Kelan Benedict paced the length of the lavish boardroom, his fingers tapping nervously against his thigh. He was scheduled to meet with Board Chairman Turner any minute, but his mind was elsewhere.The so-called successes he had proudly touted to Zadok yesterday felt increasingly hollow, especially now that he had a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. His father’s expectations loomed large over him, a shadow that was impossible to ignore.The door creaked open, and Chairman Turner entered, his usually stern face softened by a faint, perfunctory smile. “Kelan,” Turner greeted him, extending a hand.“Chairman,” Kelan replied, shaking his hand with what he hoped was a confident grip. He gestured for Turner to take a seat, but before either of them could sit, Kelan’s phone buzzed in his pocket. The screen flashed with the name "Gregor Benedict," and Kelan felt his chest tighten.“Excuse me for just a moment,” Kelan said, forcing a smile as he stepped away to take the call in the ne