Jungkook's words echoed through the chamber.
"Nobody is taking her from me."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Because everyone knew he meant it.
Every single word.
Jungkook wasn't making a promise.
He was declaring war.
Against destiny.
Against history.
Against anything that threatened Aarya.
Even if that threat came from the stars themselves.
Aarya looked up at him.
For a moment—
everything else disappeared.
The Cradle.
The signal.
The Heirs.
The fear.
All of it.
Because Jungkook's arms remained around her.
Steady.
Strong.
Safe.
As if no force in existence could pull her away.
Then Adam sighed.
A tired sigh.
The sigh of a man who had heard those words before.
Many years ago.
"You sound exactly like Adrian."
The room froze.
Aarya looked up immediately.
"
