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
Settling into his chair, the tension from his conversation with his father still simmering beneath the surface. Kelan forced a smile as he looked across the table at Chairman Turner, who was already reviewing a series of financial reports on his tablet.The older man’s expression was stern, his eyes betraying little as he scanned the numbers. Turner had been a loyal asset to the Benedict family for years, but Kelan knew that loyalty was a double-edged sword—Turner was bound by his obligations to Gregor Benedict, but he wasn’t blind to Kelan’s own meddling.Kelan also knew the man likely had reasons of his own to have wanted Kerrigan removed from her undeserved position as Dragon Corporations president.“So, Chairman Turner,” Kelan began, trying to inject confidence into his voice. “I wanted to go over the recent budget adjustments and discuss a few opportunities I believe we should pursue.”Turner looked up from his tablet, his expression unchanged. “Opportunities? From what I’ve seen
The days following the initial wave of layoffs at Dragon Corporation passed in a tense, uneasy haze for most of the staff. The chaos that had erupted as employees were cut from the company had gradually given way to a silent simmering anxiety.The restructuring was mostly complete, at least for now, but the uncertainty that lingered in the halls of Dragon Corporation made it clear that the calm was merely the eye of the storm. Everyone was waiting for the next move—whether it would come from Kelan, the board, or Kerrigan herself.Those directors who could see the writing on the wall were waiting for their business partners to cause a ruckus and cut ties with Dragon Corporation when orders started to miss deadlines. It was only a matter of time before the fireworks began.Conor, meanwhile, had grown restless. Despite his nightly debriefs with Kerrigan, where they would discuss the day’s events and strategize about the future, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being sidelined.K