The alarms blared like a furious heartbeat, vibrating through the steel floors as Dominic shoved Elara behind him. The red emergency lights flashed, turning the room into a strobe of danger shadows shifting, silhouettes sharp, adrenaline slicing through the air.
Stay close to me, Dominic said, voice low and lethal.
Jax moved to Elara's other side, blade glinting in the red light. And listen to me if you want to live. If I say duck, you duck.
Dominic shot him a glare.
She listens to me.
She listens to whoever keeps her alive, Jax snapped.
Both of youstop, Elara breathed, chest tight. We don't have time.
Dominic pressed his thumb to a panel and the reinforced inner door slid open with a hiss. Beyond it was a corridor lit only by the pulsing emergency lights. Elara's heart hammered as footsteps echoed ahead heavy, deliberate, too many to count.
Armed, Jax muttered. He flicked his knife between his fingers. Expensive mercenaries. Brielle's father must be panicking.
Dominic grabbed Elara's hand. Then they're dead men walking.
They moved quickly.
Down the hallway.
Around the corner.
Straight into an ambush.
A bullet cracked past Elara's shoulder Dominic twisted her down against the wall before she could scream.
Jax moved like shadow silent, vicious, fast. He slipped into the dark and two bodies fell before they even registered his presence.
Dominic drew his gun and fired three precise shots, taking down the men blocking their exit.
Elara trembled, breath coming too fast. She wasn't used to this world of danger and violence. But she didn't feel helpless not this time. Something inside her burned hotter than fear.
Dominic cupped her face for half a second. You okay?
She nodded. I'm fine.
You're shaking.
Still fine.
His jaw tightened not with anger but with fear. Fear for her.
A grenade rolled down the hall.
Down! Jax barked.
Dominic threw himself over Elara as the explosion thundered. Heat. Light. Smoke. Dust.
The shockwave knocked her breath out.
Her ears rang.
She opened her eyes to Dominic shielding her with his entire body, fury carved into every line of his face.
Are you hurt? he demanded.
I'm okay, she managed.
A voice echoed through the smoke-filled hall:
Give us the girl and we let the rest of you walk.
Dominic's lips curled into a dark, violent smile. Come take her from me.
Jax stood, eyes narrowing to slits. They won't stop. They're scared of her.
Why? Elara whispered.
Because you're not just anyone, Jax murmured. You're the one they were warned about.
Footsteps pounded closer more men, too many.
Dominic pulled her behind him again. We fight through.
No, Jax said suddenly. There's another way.
He grabbed Elara's wrist. Dominic ripped him off her instantly.
Don't touch her.
I'm not hurting her, Jax snapped. I'm helping her. She has something in her she just doesn't know how to use it.
Use what? Elara asked, breath shaking.
Jax met her eyes. The fire.
Dominic growled. This prophecy garbage
It's not garbage, Jax cut him off. I saw it last night when she was attacked. Her pulse spiked, her adrenaline surged her body reacted like someone born for this. She has strength she doesn't understand.
Elara swallowed hard. What strength?
Jax took a step closer, voice softer. It's not magic. It's instinct. Something dormant. Something generations old. It comes out when you're cornered. When you need it. He brushed a thumb near her wrist. Let me show you how to use it.
Dominic shoved him back. You're not training her like she's yours.
She's not yours either, Jax snarled.
Enough! Elara shouted, voice cracking with fear and fury.
Both men froze.
The footsteps were seconds away.
She squeezed her fists so tight her nails bit into her palms.
"I'm tired of being the one who needs saving, she whispered. Teach me either of you. Both of you. I don't care. I just… I don't want to be powerless.
Dominic stared at her, shock softening into something deeper. Pride. Awe. Love.
Jax smirked faintly. Told you she had fire.
But before either man could speak
A mercenary charged through the smoke toward Elara, gun raised.
Dominic moved.
Jax moved.
Elara reacted.
She didn't think.
Her hand shot out, palm open, body acting on instinct
And the attacker flew backward as though struck by something invisible.
He slammed into the wall.
Hard.
The hallway went silent.
Dominic turned to her slowly, eyes wide.
Elara…
Jax breathed a laugh dark, impressed, almost reverent.
There it is.
I… i didn't do anything, Elara stammered.
Dominic touched her wrist lightly. Yes, you did.
Before anyone could process what happened, a new voice echoed through the hall cold, feminine, and full of venom.
Well, Brielle drawled from the end of the corridor, stepping through the smoke in a sleek black dress and gloves. "If it isn't the pretty little prophecy girl.
Elara stiffened.
Behind her, Dominic growled.
You tried to kill her.
Brielle smiled, stepping forward. Don't be dramatic. I only tried to remove a problem.
Jax lifted his knife. Say the word, and she's gone.
No, Dominic barked. She's mine to handle.
No, Elara whispered trembling. She's mine.
Brielle smirked. How cute. You think you matter?
Elara stepped forward.
For the first time in her life, she wasn't afraid.
She was angry.
You sent killers after me. Why?
Brielle's expression darkened. Because you're ruining everything. Dominic was never supposed to love someone like you. You're beneath us. And you she pointed accusingly you're the girl from the prophecy. The one who destroys the balance. The one who takes everything from me.
Her voice cracked. I won't let you take him.
Dominic stepped forward. I was never yours.
Brielle's face twisted.
You will be. Once she's dead.
And she raised the gun.
At Elara.
Dominic lunged.
Jax shouted.
Elara lifted her hand.
The air cracked
Like something waking inside her.
Something ancient.
Something unstoppable.
A shockwave burst from Elara's palm pure force, invisible yet violent, slamming into Brielle and sending her crashing back into the wall.
Dominic and Jax both froze.
Elara stared at her hand, wide-eyed, chest heaving.
I… I didn't mean to
Dominic cupped her face with shaking hands. You protected yourself. You did nothing wrong.
Jax stepped forward, eyes blazing. Sunbe…
(he stopped himself, corrected)
Elara… this is just the beginning. That power? That was barely a spark.
Elara trembled, fear and power mixing inside her like wildfire.
Dominic pulled her close, his voice fierce, trembling with emotion.
I don't care what prophecy you belong to. You're mine. And I'm not losing you.
Jax's jaw tightened. And I'm not letting her face this alone.
Brielle groaned, coughing as she tried to stand.
Dominic growled, ready to end it.
But Elara stepped between them.
No, she said quietly. This is my fight now.
And for the first time…
The girl who entered Dominic's world as an outsider
…stood as someone the entire empire would fear.
Someone powerful.
Someone forbidden.
Someone unstoppable.