The city outside was a scarred wasteland, smoke curling lazily from fires long burning, the skyline fractured and jagged like teeth. From our perch in the safe house, the devastation stretched as far as I could see. The council’s reach was unrelenting, but for now, there was a brief, fragile lull, a calm before the storm that none of us could truly trust. Damian stood at the edge of the roof, tense and coiled, eyes scanning every movement below. The muscles in his jaw were tight, his claws flexing slightly, fangs visible even without a snarl. I pressed my hands to my stomach, feeling the twins shift sharply. Their movements were insistent, almost urgent, like they knew more than I did. My heart pounded as fear and determination warred inside me. Chloe sat nearby, hunched over her laptop, f
