The smoke from the melted tablet curled into the air, a bitter scent of burnt circuits and broken hope. Nala’s hands were empty, but her heart was hammering a rhythm of pure defiance. Dante stood over her, his presence a heavy shroud that seemed to suck the oxygen out of the room. He had found the hidden map. He had destroyed her only lead.
"Maricha Sonoko always was too clever for her own good," Dante whispered, his voice like velvet over a blade. "She thought she could build a cage and hide the key from the master. She forgot who owns the very ink she uses to draw her little betrayals."
Nala didn't look away. "She didn't betray you, Dante. She tried to save me from a monster. There’s a difference."
Suddenly, the lights in the penthouse flickered and plunged into total darkness. The co
