The Lokir estate was vast, its many rooms and hallways a labyrinth of memories and forgotten histories. As Kerrigan and Conor made their way through the mansion, the air was thick with the weight of the past, each step echoing with the whispers of those who had once walked these halls.Faolan padded silently beside Kerrigan, her presence a comforting reminder that she was not alone, even as she delved deeper into the mysteries of her family’s past. The dog’s ears twitched occasionally, as if she could sense the tension that hung in the air.They moved from room to room, each one revealing a new layer of the estate’s history. There were the formal sitting rooms, with their ornate furniture and heavy drapes, where Kerrigan’s parents had entertained guests and conducted business. There were the bedrooms, still furnished as they had been years ago, as if waiting for their occupants to return.In one of the guest rooms, Kerrigan found a wardrobe filled with clothes that had belonged to her
Kerrigan slowly woke to the first light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of the Lokir estate. The previous day’s discoveries still weighed heavily on her mind, the pieces of a puzzle she had only just begun to assemble.Faolan stirred at the foot of her bed, her head lifting as Kerrigan stretched and sat up. Her eyes were alert, ready for whatever the day might bring.She dressed quickly, the early morning chill of the old manor biting at her skin as she moved through the quiet corridors of the mansion. She found herself drawn back to the private library, the room where she had uncovered so much of her parents’ hidden past.As she stepped inside, she wasn’t surprised to find Conor already there, seated at the desk with a stack of letters in front of him.“Couldn’t sleep?” Kerrigan asked, her voice still rough from sleep as she joined him.Conor looked up, offering her a small, tired smile. “Not much,” he admitted. “There’s too much going on in my head. After everything we f
As if sensing her thoughts, Faolan nuzzled Kerrigan’s leg, her warm presence a reminder of the loyalty and strength that had always been a part of her life.Kerrigan sighed, running a hand through Faolan’s fur as she made her decision. “We should head back to Velyki today,” she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty she felt. “There’s more to uncover here, but we can’t ignore what’s happening at Dragon Corporation. And the longer we stay away, the more suspicious it will look.”Conor nodded, though she could see the reluctance in his eyes. “You’re right. But we should take these letters with us, in case we find anything that connects to what’s happening now.”Kerrigan agreed, gathering the letters and placing them carefully in her bag. As she did, she felt a pang of regret—there were so many memories here, so much of her family’s history that she hadn’t had time to explore.But she knew that she couldn’t let herself get lost in the past, not when the future of Dragon Corporati
Kerrigan sat in her office at Dragon Corporation, staring at the papers spread across her desk but unable to focus on any of them.The past few days had been a whirlwind—returning from the Duke's estate, the revelations at Lokir, and now back to the grind of running one of the kingdom's largest corporations. Yet, amidst all the chaos, there was one thing that weighed on her mind more than anything else: Conor.Since they’d returned from her grandfather's estate, Conor had been different. He was still there, of course—always by her side in meetings, quick to offer support when needed—but something had shifted.The easy camaraderie they once shared, the unspoken connection that had always been a comfort, seemed strained now, almost mechanical. He had become more professional detached, more distant, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had profoundly changed, and it was her fault.Kerrigan sighed, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back in her chair.
Kerrigan had been trying to focus on the documents in front of her, but her mind kept wandering back to the meeting with Theo Bryant.It had gone well, better than she’d expected, but the unease that had settled in her chest since their return from the Duke's estate had only grown. Conor had been distant, more so with each passing day, and she couldn’t help but feel that she was losing him.As she flipped through another page, a soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Natalie stepped into the office, her expression serious as she held a folded newspaper in her hand."Kerrigan, you should see this," Natalie said, her tone cautious.Kerrigan raised an eyebrow, motioning for her to hand it over. "What’s going on?"Natalie hesitated before handing her the newspaper. "It’s today’s edition of the Golan Tribune. I thought you might want to see it before the others do."Kerrigan took the paper and unfolded it, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the front page. There, in sta
Kerrigan stared at the brief message Conor had sent a few hours later. It was just a few lines—detached, professional—reporting that Emily was safe in Jinstain and responding well to treatment.There was no warmth, no personal touch, just the facts. It was exactly what she had asked for, but it still stung.She knew Conor was pulling back, creating distance between them, but it didn’t make it any easier to accept. It was like he had drawn a line, one she wasn’t sure how to cross.She had planned on meeting with him and giving Theo good news together about Emily, but it seemed she was on her own. That hurt more than she was ready to admit.A knock on her door pulled her from her thoughts. It was Theo Bryant, looking more worn out than usual, the strain of the past few weeks evident in the lines of his face.“Mr. Bryant,” Kerrigan greeted him with a nod, trying to mask her own weariness. “Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat.”Theo sat down, his movements slow and deliberate. “You
Conor sat at the head of a long table in a private dining room, the soft clinking of silverware and the low hum of conversation filling the space. He watched the group of interns as they chatted among themselves, their expressions a mix of excitement and nerves.They were young, eager, and bright-eyed—the kind of people who could one day become the future of Dragon Corporation, if they stuck around long enough.But that was precisely the problem. Conor could sense the unease in the room, the way some of them avoided eye contact, their laughter a little too forced.He had invited them to dinner under the pretense of gaining insights for Vokrizin’s own internship program, but his real goal was to uncover what was happening behind the scenes at Dragon Corporation.He cleared his throat, drawing their attention.“Thank you all for joining me tonight. I’ve heard great things about the internship program here at Dragon Corporation, and I wanted to get some firsthand feedback. You’re the fut
Conor woke early, the darkness of the early morning still lingering as he stared at the ceiling of his hotel room. Sleep had been elusive, his mind filled with thoughts of the previous night's dinner with the interns and the growing distance between him and Kerrigan.The decision weighed heavily on him, and he knew he couldn't delay it any longer. He needed clarity, and that meant making a difficult choice.He quietly dressed in his running gear and left the room, missing that familiar companionship of Faolan trotting at his side.The cold mountain air of Velyki even in summer hit him as soon as he stepped outside, the bite of the wind coming off the high peaks a sharp reminder of the reality he was facing.He set off at a brisk pace, the rhythmic pounding of his feet on the pavement providing a small measure of comfort. Faolan kept pace with him, her breath visible in the frosty air, as they wound through the city streets.Conor pushed himself harder than usual, trying to outrun the