The safe house felt different now. The chaos outside had become almost a rhythm, a constant, pounding reminder that the council was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The city streets had been fractured beyond repair, smoke curling from ruined buildings, sirens screaming in the distance. Every time I closed my eyes, I could imagine the enforcers moving in waves, searching for us, hunting us like predators. Damian stood near the window, tense as ever, muscles coiled, his eyes scanning every possible angle. I pressed my hand to my belly, feeling the twins shift insistently. They were alive, aware, almost as if they understood the danger surrounding us. Each movement made my stomach tighten with both fear and fierce determination. Chloe had turned the main room into a command center. He
