Christine shook her head violently, her hands trembling as she faced the two imposing figures in her living room. The assumption that Kirk would coerce Kimi consumed her thoughts, but Dynasty's earlier words left her questioning everything. Could it be true that Kimi already knew about her hybrid nature?
"My daughter knows nothing about any of this. Please, I'm begging you, don't drag her into whatever this is. She's innocent—"
"Mom."
The single word cut through Christine's desperate plea like a blade. Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly turned toward the living room entrance, her worst fears materializing before her eyes.
Kimi stood in the doorway, and Christine's world tilted on its axis. She had been certain the house was empty, that she was alone when Kirk had appeared like a shadow from her past. "Kimi! You're supposed to be—"
