(Updates everyday)
Power demands what it's owed, and souls are its favorite currency.
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When museum curator, Lena Goodwin, receives an anonymous package containing damning evidence of a mistake she thought she buried years ago, her carefully built...
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Hugh's office felt stifling. Lena was having a hard time breathing with the weight of what he had planned on doing. He had just told her and Roran, who she was desperately trying to keep her distance from, that the auction would be held in a private estate, deep in the city's shadows. It would be hidden behind layers of secrecy and guarded entryways. Only the most ruthless, and wealthiest, could afford to attend.
Lena didn't question how Hugh got an invite. He had proven to be more than capable of being stone cold - heartless - that there was no room for doubt. All she had space for was how they were going to pull this off without getting caught.
Because now they were getting a whole lot more than they bargained for with Drakhar now in the mix. The Astralis Codex was a lot more important that Lena remembered it being when her father worked on it.
Just what didn't she know about it that everyone wanted it?
Roran leaned against the far wall, carelessly flipping a knife between his fingers. A smirk tugged at a corner of his lips as he eyes honed in on her. Lena deeply wished that the blade would fall and land right on his big toe with the way he was looking at her. It was sickening.
Meanwhile, Hugh stood over his desk, his posture rigid, and his gaze focused on the map of the estate in front of him. He'd gone over it, the plan, a dozen times, but he was meticulous. He double-checked every minute detail.
They couldn't risk making any mistakes, even a slight one could cause the plan to go awry. Then every effort made would be for nothing.
Lena stood off-kilter by the desk, creating as big of a gap as possible between her and Roran. She studied the blueprint alongside Hugh, at his annotations that provided a visual aid to exactly how he had hoped the auction would pan out.
The Astralis Codex would be the last artifact on display, and they wouldn't be bidding on it. They were going to steal it.
"Let's go over this one last time before we head out," Hugh said, his voice low but firm.
"The auction will proceed as usual. There will be no interruptions, no meddling. Lena will stick with me until the Codex comes out." He turned to her, moving onto the focal point that would determine how the rest of the evening would go. "Roran and I will cover for you so you can confirm if it's the real deal. Follow the rules."
Lena shifted uneasily. "And if something goes wrong?"
Roran jumped in before Hugh could say a word. He continued to twirl that knife in one hand. "Then we get creative." His tone was playful, borderline seductive.
She shot him a sharp look, her eyes narrowed. "This isn't a joke. We could die."
"You think I'm joking?" Roran chuckled, not fazed by Lena's reaction. He was really starting to get on her nerves. "I don't joke about the important stuff."
