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There will be no mercy.

Chapter Seventeen

Dr. Maya Sorin

“Are you sure this friend of yours can help?” I ask, stifling a yawn as we enter the Golden Birch Inn.

The restaurant’s interior is all polished wood and soft lighting, the hushed conversations of wealthy patrons creating a gentle backdrop of white noise.

“Positive.” Mathew flashes his infectious grin, purple hair catching the sunlight. “He’s been working on similar enzyme pathways for years. His insight could be exactly what we need to stabilize the secondary binding agent.”

“I would really have liked to do this at some other point, Mathew. I told you we’re working on something important. I don’t like multitasking.”

“But it’s for your project back in Seattle,” he coaxes me. “How can you let an opportunity like this pass you by? Besides, we’ve been stuck in that place for so long. We barely go out.”

I stretch my arms over my head as I look around. “What’re you complaining about? You’re the one who begged to come and help.”

He grins at me, nudging me with his elbow. “You love having me around. Admit it. We work well together, even if I am just your assistant.”

“That’s true.” I sigh, offering him a small smile.

Mathew joined GenTherapeutics just a few days after I did. While he is an established scientist, he preferred to work under me. He’s loud and cheerful and just overall chaotic, and during a time when I was grieving, he was able to drag me out of the darkness momentarily.

As a friend and as a scientist, he has proven himself invaluable—brilliant, intuitive, and somehow able to make me laugh despite everything.

“Is he waiting for us? You never mentioned his name.”

“Didn’t I?” Mathew glances at me, his expression unreadable for a fleeting moment. “Dr. Emmett. Brilliant biochemist. Worked with me on the Nexus project at my previous workplace.”

I frown. “Remind me where you worked before joining GenTherapeutics?”

“A small lab in the middle of nowhere,” Mathew answers smoothly. “We did some incredible stuff.”

A hostess in crisp, black attire greets us with a practiced smile.

“Reservation for Emmett,” Mathew says confidently. “Private dining room.”

She nods and proceeds to lead us through the main restaurant and down a hallway lined with doors. “Your party has already arrived,” she informs us, stopping at the last door. “Enjoy.”

Mathew slips the hostess some money, but I’m too distracted to think much about it. My thoughts are on Griffin.

His revelation about the prophecy still churns in my mind, muddling my thoughts whenever I try to make sense of it. If hewas telling the truth—if he pushed me away to save my life—then everything I’ve believed for the past six months has been wrong. The idea is too painful, too overwhelming to process fully.

“Maya?” Mathew’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. He stands by the door, waiting. “You coming?”

“Yeah, sorry.” I shake my head, trying to clear it. “Just tired.”

Mathew pushes the door open, gesturing for me to enter first. I step into an elegant private dining room with a single table set for four, crystal glasses catching the light from a low-hanging chandelier.

My heart stops when I see who rises from the table.

Cassian Vayne.

His smile hasn’t changed—charming, confident, with that hint of calculated warmth that once fooled me completely. He’s dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, looking more like a successful businessman than the monster who kidnapped me.

“Dr. Sorin,” he says smoothly. “It’s been too long.”

Fear jolts through me, sharp and clarifying. I spin around, grabbing Mathew’s arm. “We need to leave. Now.”