The silence inside the Apex penthouse was absolute, a stark, jarring contrast to the violent October storm aggressively raging outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. I sat alone on the massive velvet sofa, staring intensely at the heavy black smartphone resting on the cushions beside me. It felt like a ticking time bomb, a direct link to the dangerous, blood-soaked world Valerius was currently dominating on the southern docks.
I forced myself to stand up. My fractured ribs instantly protested with a sharp, familiar throb, but the pain medication kept the absolute worst of the agony at bay. I couldn't just sit here and wait. The anxiety gnawing at my stomach was far too intense. I needed to move. I needed to understand the man who claimed I was his Queen.
I began to slowly explore the vast
