Page 35 of Taken

I touch my lips, still burning from Allard’s kiss. Still tasting of promises I know better than to believe.

“The Heartstone,” I whisper, giving him the safer truth. “Pulsing with power. And fire. So much fire.”

Hargen’s hands tighten on mine. “And Reeve? What did you tell him?”

The concern in his voice is real, but there’s something else, too. Jealousy? All these years, our relationship has existed in limbo—handler and asset, protector and prisoner, something almost like friends. But tonight, I see clearly what I’ve tried to ignore—that Hargen feels something for me that goes beyond duty.

“Nothing important,” I say, avoiding his eyes. “Nothing that would put anyone at risk.”

His fingers brush my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. “Are you sure? Lila, if he’s—”

“I’m fine,” I interrupt. “It was nothing. He just happened to be here when I had the vision.”

Hargen studies me for a long moment, disbelief evident in the set of his jaw. “There are things happening that you don’t understand,” he says finally. “Reeve… he’s dangerous.”

“Everyone here is dangerous,” I counter. “You included.”

“Not to you,” he says softly. “Never to you.”

The raw emotion in his voice catches me off guard.

“I know,” I whisper, and for a moment, I almost tell him everything—about Elena, about my suspicions regarding Allard, about the fire in my vision. But self-preservation keeps the words locked behind my teeth.

Hargen nods once, professional distance sliding back into place as he opens his medical bag. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

As he tends to the blood splashed on my shirt, I stare at the door where Allard disappeared. My body still hums with the memory of his touch, my mind racing with questions.

Who is he really? What does he want from me?

Why do I want to give it to him, regardless of what he wants?

God, Lila, this is such a mess.

Between Hargen’s quiet concern and Allard’s burning intensity, I’ve stepped into territory more perilous than any vision.

And I have absolutely no idea what happens next.

Chapter 11

Talon

I walk straight into the middle of something I’m not supposed to see.

Creed’s private office has its door cracked open. Inside, voices filter out—raised, urgent, electric with excitement. I pause, weighing the risk of intrusion against the potential intelligence.

No real choice. I push the door open.

The conversation cuts off immediately. Creed stands over a digital display with Dr. Emerson, their faces shifting from surprise to irritation.

“Reeve.” Creed’s voice could freeze hellfire. “This is a private meeting.”

I step inside anyway, closing the door behind me. “Sir. Security protocols require me to be informed of all high-level operational planning.” I maintain Allard Reeve’s confident authority, though my gut tightens at the calculation in Creed’s eyes.

“You weren’t summoned,” Emerson says.

“Yet here I am.” I move toward the digital display where energy readings pulse across the screen—unusual patterns I haven’t seen before. “If this is a security issue, I need to be updated.”

Creed’s jaw works as he weighs his options. Finally, he gives a curt nod. “Fine. Since you’re here, you might as well be informed. We’ve had a significant breakthrough.”

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