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“Did you figure out why she’s here?” Michael pressed.

Lorenzo didn’t answer—his face said it all.

Just then, Kara returned, clearly annoyed and out of breath. Her elegant, green gown shimmered faintly as it caught the light,brushing the floor with every step. Her hair was tied in a neat half updo, strands framing her youthful, expressive face, which was flushed with frustration. “Astra?” she called into the hall. “Why does she always disappear whenever I look for her?!”

Lorenzo, Xander, and Michael turned their heads from Kara to each other, then all at once started following her.

Kara hurried through a nearly empty corridor, her heels tapping sharply against the stone floor. As she passed a corner, a hand suddenly reached out and yanked her aside.

Krystal pulled her into a hidden alcove. Darren stood next to her.

“Jesus, Kara!” Krystal hissed, panicked. “Do you want to tell the entire world who Astra really is?!”

“Oh my God!” Kara squealed, throwing her arms around Krystal. “I’ve been looking for you for hours!”

Krystal hugged her back, but Kara pulled away almost instantly and gave her a stern look.

“Wait a damn minute—are you seriously still hiding the fact that you are Astra? After all these years? You’re not planning to stay a secret forever like Damion, are you?!”

Krystal sighed, shaking her head. “I’m not sure... but I don’t want to be revealed yet. So please, don’t tell anyone you’ve seen me.”

Kara nodded, chewing her bottom lip nervously. "I didn’t but it looks like someone’s already following me."

Krystal’s brows pinched in concern. She peeked down the corridor in the direction Kara had come from. Sure enough—Lorenzo and Xander were scanning the area, their sharp eyessearching. They were definitely following Kara. And they were just minutes away from reaching them.

“Give me your jacket,” Krystal said quickly, keeping her voice low.

Kara, wearing a dress with a breezy, shimmery white jacket over it, didn’t hesitate. She slipped it off and handed it over. Darren, already sensing what Krystal was about to do, pulled a medical mask from his pocket. He always kept one handy. “Here,” he said, passing it to her.

“Thanks,” she muttered.

“I’m heading out,” Kara added. “Damion’s been waiting in the car for an hour already. Text me later, and we’ll schedule to meet properly.”

“Got it,” Krystal said, slipping the mask over her face and tying her hair into a messy bun to change her appearance completely.

Kara glanced at her. “What are you going to do if he finds you?”

Krystal’s lips curved into a dry smile. “Run like hell,” she muttered—and bolted.

Kara blinked. “What the—?”

She turned to Darren. “What’s going on with her?”

Darren casually leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching Krystal vanish down the corridor like it was just another Tuesday.

He sighed dramatically. “Trouble’s been following her like a love-sick puppy with a grudge.”

Chapter 16 Get In Line

Krystal peeked around a doorway, panting. Her chest rose and fell as she glanced behind her. “Is he still following me? Did I shake him off already?” she whispered, leaning against the wall, breath shallow. “What did I ever do to deserve this kind of karma?”

But just as she caught her breath, a familiar voice growled near her ear.

“You knowexactlywhat you’ve done.”

Krystal’s head snapped toward the voice—Lorenzo.

Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall, his tall frame looming over hers. His grip on her shoulders was firm, his eyes burning with fury.