Luna barked once—sharp, warning, and final.
The captives flinched. Star flicked her tail. Swoop stared like a statue carved from shadow.
And for the first time, the queen did not tremble in fear—she stood in power.
Just then, Deacon’s phone rang. He stepped aside and answered it, pressing it to his ear.
Darci’s voice was quick and sharp. "Those two? Yeah, I know them. Bobby and Jimmy. They’re brothers. Out of work. Their mom’s got cancer. They eat at the Isle every night."
Deacon’s eyes narrowed. "You sure?"
"Positive," she said. Then, more quietly, "I heard Joshua was looking for them. That can’t be a coincidence."
Deacon’s jaw tightened as he ended the call and turned back to Angel, Elias, and Dorian.
"Their names are Bobby and Jimmy. Brothers. Desperate. And Joshua’s sniffing ar
