For a heartbeat, the hallway felt frozen in time.
Dominic stood like a wall of fury in front of Elara, shoulders squared, fists clenched, every inch of him ready to destroy Jax if he so much as breathed wrong.
But Jax didn't flinch.
He just watched Elara.
Not Dominic.
Her.
And that unsettled her more than the threat he carried.
Start talking, Dominic growled. Or I'll end this right now.
Jax chuckled once low, amused, unbothered. Relax, Dom. If I came to fight, you'd already be bleeding.
Dominic surged forward, but Elara grabbed his arm.
Wait.
That tiny touch her fingers brushing his skin stopped him immediately. Dominic's breath came hard, nostrils flaring, anger radiating off him like heat, but he listened.
Because it was her.
Elara turned to Jax, heart pounding. "What do you want to warn us about?
Jax's dark eyes flicked to Dominic with a challenge, then back to her.
About the person who hired me, he said quietly.
Elara's stomach dropped. You mean… someone sent you to attack me?"
Jax shook his head. Attack? No. I was supposed to scare you. Keep you away from Dominic's side. Nothing more.
Dominic snarled. You put your hands on her.
And I regret it, Jax snapped back. But orders were orders. You think I usually miss my mark? Please.
Elara swallowed hard. This man this dangerous, rogue hunter was admitting something like remorse. For her.
Who sent you? Dominic demanded again.
Jax hesitated. For the first time, uncertainty flickered across his face.
Elara should hear this somewhere private, he said. If I tell you here, the walls will listen and the wrong ears will hear.
Dominic stepped closer, voice low and deadly. You don't give demands in my house.
It won't be your house for long if she dies, Jax replied calmly.
Silence slammed between them.
Then Dominic grabbed Elara's hand not gently, not roughly, but protectively and pulled her toward him.
We're leaving, he said.
Good," Jax said. I'll follow.
No, Dominic snapped. You're not coming anywhere with us.
Jax shrugged. You think you can outrun what's coming? Sure. Try.
Dominic lunged again.
This time Elara stepped between them.
Stop! Both of you!
Dominic froze.
Jax blinked, surprised.
Elara took a breath. Dominic, we need answers. And Jax is the only one giving any right now.
Dominic's jaw ticked with silent frustration.
Then she turned to Jax. But you're not leaving my sight.
Jax's smirk softened into something else interest, maybe even respect.
Fair enough.
Dominic wrapped a possessive arm around her waist, pulling her flush against his side as he led them down the private stairwell.
Jax followed a few steps behind, silent and shadowlike.
The safe room was hidden beneath a false storage cellar reinforced steel, bulletproof walls, a single table, two chairs, a soft glow of warm lights. Dominic keyed in the code, then shut the door behind them.
Now it felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too full of tension.
Elara stood between both men, the air thickening around her with every breath.
Jax was first.
The person who hired me… his eyes locked on hers. "Was someone inside Dominic's circle. Someone close. Someone with access, influence, and motive.
Dominic stiffened. Name?
Jax exhaled. Brielle.
Elara's entire world tilted.
Dominic's face went blank not shocked, not confused, but… betrayed.
Brielle? Elara whispered. She hired you to
To remove you, Jax said. "Because you're ruining her perfect plans. Because Dominic looks at you like he's starving. Because you're a threat she can't control.
Elara's knees weakened. Dominic caught her instantly.
That's impossible, Dominic muttered, but even he didn't sound convinced.
Is it? Jax said quietly. She's desperate, Dom. Desperate people do ugly things.
Elara pressed a trembling hand to her chest. She had known Brielle disliked her…but murder? It felt unreal.
But why would Brielle work with… someone like you? Elara whispered.
Jax's grin was humorless. Because I'm good at what I do. Quiet. Precise. Expensive.
Dominic's voice dropped dangerously low. And now you expect me to believe you after what you did to her?
I didn't hurt her, Jax said firmly. If I wanted her dead, she wouldn't be standing here.
Elara shivered.
Dominic pulled her deeper into his arms as if shielding her from Jax's words.
But Jax's gaze stayed locked on her, softer now. Elara… I didn't know who you were. I didn't know you were
He cut himself off.
Elara frowned. Didn't know I was what?
Jax looked away.
Dominic stepped between them. Say it.
Jax exhaled slowly. …I didn't know she was the girl.
Elara blinked. What girl?
Jax's eyes returned to her, far too intense.
The girl from the prophecy.
Dominic scoffed. Don't start that nonsense.
It's not nonsense, Jax said sharply. Your father believed it. That a girl outside the power circles an outsider would be the one to break the cycle of control in this empire. A girl who didn't belong to any family. A girl with fire in her blood.
Dominic turned slowly to Elara, confusion flickering across his face.
Elara felt cold. Why… why would that be me?
Because, Jax said, stepping closer despite Dominic's glare, I watched you fight last night. You don't even know what you hold inside you.
Elara stepped back, shaken. That's impossible.
But something inside her something she had felt when danger struck twisted in response.
Dominic wrapped a hand around hers tightly, grounding her.
No prophecy will change the fact that she's mine, he growled.
Jax tilted his head. "You're assuming she wants to be.
Elara felt her breath catch.
Dominic turned to her, eyes burning.
Elara…
She felt the weight of both of them Dominic's possessive devotion, Jax's dangerous fascination pressing against her heart.
Everything was too much.
Too fast.
Too forbidden.
I need air, she whispered.
She turned for the door and alarms erupted.
A shrill, piercing warning.
Dominic swore. Someone triggered the perimeter security.
Jax pulled a knife from his boot. They're here.
Elara's heart slammed painfully.
Who? she whispered.
Jax met her eyes with grim certainty.
Whoever Brielle sent to finish what I didn't.
Dominic pulled her behind him, jaw set, eyes blazing with territorial fury.
No one touches her, he growled. Not while I'm still breathing.
Jax stepped to her other side.
And not while I'm here.
Enemies outside.
Dominic on one side.
Jax on the other.
Elara in the middle.
Her heart racing
Her fate tightening
Her forbidden love growing more dangerous by the second.