Ravenna's POV
The van rolled to a stop, the sound of the gravel crunching beneath the tires like a weight against bones. I pressed my palms against my knees, trying to steady my breath as the door opened. The politician's men stepped out first, eyes sweeping through the compound like vultures checking for movement before a kill. When one of them opened the door for me, I didn't move until he gestured with the muzzle of his gun.
The air outside smelled of sea salt and pine. A weird combination that was familiar. The road to the cabin wasn't far. It should've been ten steps ahead, leading up to a dimly lit structure that is always guarded. Instead, another sleek black car slid up beside us, its tinted window lowering slowly.
"Get in," the politician said, leaning halfway out of th
