Page 23 of Taken

“Her vitals?” I ask, glancing at the monitors.

“Stabilizing. She’s… resilient.”

I study him as he works—efficient movements, gentle hands. Not what I expected from someone keeping a powerful witch captive for so long.

“You’ve been her handler since acquisition?” I keep my tone casually professional.

Hargen nods, not elaborating further.

“Unusual assignment length.”

He looks up, eyes darkening to something closer to obsidian before he controls whatever emotion caused it. “Consistency yields better results with seers. Changing handlers disrupts the process.”

“Logical.” I step closer to the bed, and something shifts inside me as I observe Lila at rest.

Her dark lashes cast shadows against her cheeks. Her hair catches the low light, gleaming like moonlight on water. Her lips, full despite her pallor, part slightly with each breath. Even unconscious, there’s a quiet dignity in the curve of her neck, the line of her collarbone visible above the plain gray facility shirt.

Heat rises unexpectedly beneath my skin.

What the fuck, asshole?

I shouldn’t be here, watching her like this—vulnerable, unaware of my presence. It feels invasive.

Yet I can’t look away. The fierce woman who challenged me in the extraction chamber is transformed in sleep, revealing a softness she carefully conceals when conscious. The contradiction fascinates me, awakens something protective and primal that has nothing to do with my mission.

This is dangerous territory.

I force my gaze back to Cole. “Has she always had this degree of resistance during extraction?” I ask, recalling how she fought the process despite the pain.

His hands still momentarily. “She’s… acclimated to the process over time.”

“I require full extraction records,” I state, turning away from the bed before my interest becomes too obvious. “All sessions, all outcomes. Patterns of resistance, techniques for optimal results.”

Something flickers across the man’s face—concern, perhaps. “The records are extensive. A significant amount of data.”

“I’ll start with the last six months.” I move toward the door, then pause as if struck by an afterthought. “Your assessment, Cole. Is the current extraction schedule sustainable?”

He hesitates, measuring his response carefully. “She’s showing signs of strain. Three full extractions in one week exceeds recommended protocols.”

“Noted.” I match his careful tone. “I’ll review the technical specifications of the equipment as well. Ensure everything is… optimal.”

Our eyes meet briefly, and I see the calculation behind his. He’s trying to read me, to understand if I’m a threat or a potential ally to his charge.

“I appreciate your thoroughness,” he finally says. “The facility’s assets are valuable. Irreplaceable, in her case.”

“Indeed.” I step toward the door, stealing one last glance at Lila. Her fingers twitch slightly against the blanket, and I wonder what she fights even in dreams. “Continue your work, Cole. I’ll expect those records by 0800 tomorrow.”

As the door slides closed behind me, I exhale slowly, trying to steady the unexpected turmoil in my blood. My dragon stirs restlessly beneath my skin, responding to something about her that defies logical explanation.

Turning away from her door, I put distance between myself and the woman who seems to be drawing me inexplicably back.

Get a grip, Raize.

It takes me several minutes to rebalance my composure.

Back in my assigned quarters, I sit at the desk and pull up the facility schematics on my secure tablet. Floor plans, security protocols, guard rotations—all memorized during preparation, but now I study them with new eyes.

Three potential extraction routes, each with complications. The service tunnel requires bypassing two security checkpoints. The emergency exit triggers immediate lockdown unless proper override codes are inputted. The loading dock offers fewer security barriers but maximum exposure.

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