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“Then why am I here? Why am I in shackles while you’re standing guard?”

“Because you have the answers to all of our questions.”

“What questions? What the f—”

Sonia closed the gap between her and the bed as she lowered to my ears. “Lorenzo isn’t the only family you have, Katerina. If you do what I say, you’ll be able to find them and uncover all that’s been hidden.”

“Why should I trust you after what you’ve done?”

“Because I always keep my promises,” she said as she straightened, “regardless of life or death.”

Before I could ask anything, the door clicked and widened as Lace entered. Sonia straightened her shoulders, and the same deadpan appearance emerged as she bowed at his entrance. Lace’s gaze didn’t meet mine as he stepped toward Sonia, his whispers low to the point I couldn’t make out what he said. Sonia took her leave and gave a warning glimpse at me above her sunglasses, Lace’s back to her.

If I bring her down with me, would I lose my chance at escaping?

The chair screeched against the floor as Lace sat. His appearance hadn’t changed from the few months we’d been apart. But there was no gleam in his gaze or a teasing grin across his face. Instead, he was a hollow shell of himself. Hardened yet so relaxed.

His shoulders straightened while sheets of paper scattered across a yellow folder rested on his lap, my gaze stumbling on the familiar font. They were medical records with the same CEG branding that each client had.

But I had never seen my name on them. Or any of the information on it.

Katerina Eli

H213227

HBT-01 Virus.

*Condition Eradicated*

“Why, Lace?” It was all I could bring myself to say. Because if I said anything else, it would all come out in shouts and cries.

“Would you believe me if I said I want to see the world burn after I’ve stripped everyone of their authority?” Lace’s eyes traveled onto me, and my best friend was nowhere to be found, “Or would you believe that it’s all been what the superior had wanted?” A smile formed, and a glint hinted through his eyes. “Because it’s both and more.”

“Whatbullshitare you spitting?”

A grin slashed across his face, and he gave no response, a silence settling as an outline appeared behind the door’s window. Once it opened, a woman stepped inside, and Lace rose from the seat, my aunt taking the files from his palm.

“You’re supposed to be dead.”

She appeared exactly as she had six years ago, not like the dead woman she was supposed to be underneath the tombstone that my cousin had continued visiting this entire time.

My dead cousin.

“You are too, yet here we are, two living corpses.” Her words were icy but composed.

She wore a white coat, and along the pocket was imprinted a name I didn’t recognize.

“Who the fuck is Cecilia Epide?”

“The rightful heir to the Ministry.” A smirk hinted across her face as she continued looking over the file. “I’ve missed the ring of my true name.”

“What about your son?” Fury devoured my veins, my arms and legs kicking through the ache that appeared on my skin. “How could you lie to Lorenzo?”

“He was nothing more than a failed experiment. There’s no importance in a subject that brings disappointment. There are greater matters in mind, and that is you.” She cleared her throat, those apathetic, moss-green eyes locking on mine. “Understand this, Katerina: everything you have believed your entire life has been a fabrication that I have created. You’ve been dormant too long. But, it has all led to this moment, this discovery.”

“What the hell are you saying?”

“You, sweet patient, will be the key to the eradication of vampirekind.” She stood as the two men stepped in, one holding a syringe while the other held a straitjacket. “Take the hybrid to the examination room. We have no time to waste.”