Lina's POV
My mentor, Fiona, had told me. After days of trying and failing to reach Adrian, I'd secretly contacted her instead.
Her first words when she answered had been a warning: "Darling, I don't want to see you in Burndale. You're forbidden fruit. He'll lose his mind if you show up there."
I'd been silent for a long time after that.
Then I'd said quietly, "But Professor, my husband is in Burndale."
There had been a pause. Static crackled over the line.
"Yes," Fiona had finally said. "He is. So listen very carefully to what I'm about to tell you."
More static, like the connection was struggling to hold. Then her voice came through again, calm and penetrating.
"The strongest armor in this world isn't made of steel, Lina. It's made of an unassailable identity. I
