The panic room’s reinforced walls vibrated with the distant thunder of explosions above. The Shadow Council’s forces, bolstered by Sophia’s intelligence and the remnants of Viktor’s alliance, had breached the outer perimeter. The final assault was no longer a threat — it was here.
Ava sat against the far wall, wrapped in a blanket, her heavily pregnant belly resting on her thighs. The heat had finally broken, leaving her exhausted but clear-headed for the first time in days. Her hazel eyes, once soft with youthful innocence, now held a sharper edge — the strength of a woman who had survived months of obsession, betrayal, and war.
Damien paced the small space like a caged wolf, his powerful frame still streaked with blood from the earlier fighting. The silver in his dark hair caught the d
