Rain lashed against the windows of the manor, a relentless drumbeat that mirrored the turmoil inside Gillian’s mind. He stepped out into the night, the cold dampness immediately soaking into his coat. The city of Bronze was a maze of narrow alleyways and flickering streetlamps, a place where secrets were currency and life was cheap. Gillian moved through the shadows with the grace of a predator, his senses heightened, tracking the scent of the target he had been ordered to eliminate. His task was clear, yet every step felt heavy, burdened by the realization that he was hunting a woman who held the keys to Ghea’s forgotten history.
The narrow alley he entered was slippery with oil and rainwater. Garbage piled up in the corners, creating an obstacle course of decay. He pulled his collar h
