He reaches into a secure case on his desk and removes something that makes my dragon senses flare in warning. A crystal shard no larger than my palm, pulsing with deep crimson light that seems to beat with a rhythm like a living heart.
The moment I see it, my scales shift beneath my skin, responding to the ancient power. Recognition burns through my blood, a visceral reaction I have to fight to control.
“We found this,” he says, holding it up. “We’d believed all our NyxCorp holdings were out of reach when Craven Industries took over, but one of our operatives retrieved this before the Cravens could secure everything. It had been purchased from a private collector by our Heritage Division.”
I stare at the crystal, mesmerized despite myself. Even from several feet away, I can feel its power. Ancient, alive, vibrating with potential. My thoughts flash immediately to Lila. To her silver eyes. To the way her lips felt against mine three nights ago.
“Is that…?” I let the question hang.
“The Shard,” Emerson confirms, voice hushed with something close to awe. “Broken from the Heartstone during Vaelric’s attempted theft centuries ago. We’ve been hunting it for decades.”
I struggle to maintain my professional mask while my mind races. The Shard—a piece of the Stone capable of controlling us all—now in Syndicate hands. And I know exactly who they’ll use to access its power.
Lila.
Just thinking her name sends a pulse of heat through my veins.
“We need to activate it,” Creed continues, returning the crystal to its case.
“And you think our asset knows how,” I conclude, barely keeping the growl from my voice.
“Of course she does.” Creed’s expression hardens. “She’s a Rossewyn. They have power over the Stone… and the Shard, by association.”
“Which is why,” Emerson adds, “we’re initiating an unscheduled extraction. Maximum intensity. No restrictions.”
My dragon surges beneath my skin so violently that I have to clench my fists to keep the scales from breaking through. The thought of them hurting her again, so soon after the last time, makes my vision blur with crimson rage.
“Sir, the scheduled extraction isn’t until tomorrow.” I keep my voice even through sheer force of will. “The asset requires recovery time between—”
“This isn’t up for debate, Reeve,” Creed cuts me off. “This is an emergency response to critical intelligence. The witch has been withholding information for years. That ends today.”
“And if pushing too hard damages her permanently?” I challenge, a hint of dragon rumble escaping despite my control. “If her mind breaks, all potential intelligence is lost.”
“A calculated risk,” Creed dismisses. “We’ve invested too much to stop now.”
He turns to Emerson. “Prepare the extraction chamber. I want her brought in immediately.”
Emerson nods, already moving toward the door. “I’ll have Cole bring her.”
The thought of Cole touching her—even as her handler—sends a possessive fury through me that I’ve never experienced before.The feeling is so unexpected, so powerful, I momentarily lose focus.
“I’ll oversee security for the extraction,” I offer, desperate for a reason to be there, to see her, to somehow protect her.
“No need,” Creed says with a dismissive wave. “Standard protocols will suffice. I want you to continue the investigation into these energy readings.”
“Sir, given the sensitivity of this extraction, I believe I should—”
“That wasn’t a suggestion, Reeve.” Creed’s voice hardens. “You have your assignment.”
Before I can argue further, the door opens. Cole stands there, face carefully blank, despite the tension radiating from him. My nostrils flare, catching his scent: concern, fear, and something deeper when Creed mentions Lila. Something possessive that makes my dragon stir with territorial aggression.
What the hell is wrong with you, Raize?
“You requested my presence, sir?” he asks, eyes briefly flickering to me before focusing on Creed.
“Prepare the witch for immediate extraction,” Creed orders. “Maximum intensity. Full neural pathway access.”
Cole’s expression doesn’t change, but I catch the slight tightening of his jaw. “Sir, the last extraction was less than twenty-four hours ago. Her system hasn’t—”