Page 48 of Taken

“They know,” I manage after a moment. “About Elena. The Heartstone.”

“Yes.” No point denying it. “She’s an investigator. They used a Syndicate firm to hire her to infiltrate Craven Industries. She started yesterday morning.”

Yesterday. Not a vision of what might be, but what is already happening. My visions showed truth—Elena meeting a Craven, the connection neither understands, the danger lurking in shadows.

“She doesn’t know what she is.” My voice strengthens slightly with urgency. “Doesn’t know about the Rossewyn bloodline. About her abilities.”

“They’re counting on that.” Allard’s expression darkens. “Her ignorance makes her the perfect pawn.”

I close my eyes against a wave of dizziness. “How much time?”

“Before what?”

“Before she…” I struggle to form the words, to explain what I’ve seen. “The Heartstone will respond to her presence. They’ll use her to find it. To take it.”

Understanding dawns in his eyes. “You’ve seen this.”

“Fragments. While I was… out.” I grip his hand with what little strength I have. “She’s in danger. Caleb Craven—”

“Is as much a target as she is,” he finishes. “The Syndicate wants what his family protects.”

“Not just the Syndicate.” The memory of the limping dragon in my vision sends ice through my veins. “Others. Watching. Waiting.”

Allard’s eyes narrow. “Who, Lila? Who else threatens her?” He presses my hand. “Please, Lila. We don’t have much time before they notice I’ve put the cameras in sleep mode.”

I search the fragments of my vision, grasping for the detail that hovers just beyond reach. It comes suddenly, bursting into my consciousness.

“Iron… Steel… Very strong.” The words emerge from the depths of my consciousness. “Ancient dragon. Powerful. Ruthless. He wants her.”

Allard goes perfectly still, only his eyes betraying his shock. “Ancient dragon? You’ve seen this? In your visions?”

I nod weakly. “He wants to take her, too. For the Heartstone.”

“Shit.” He runs a hand through his hair, the gesture unexpectedly human for a being so controlled. “Another faction. This complicates things.”

I try to push myself up again, managing to lean forward with his help. Each movement sends lightning bolts of pain through my skull, aftereffects of the brutal extraction.

“Where’s Hargen?” I ask, suddenly aware of my handler’s absence.

“Meeting with Creed. Explaining your medical status. Buying time.” Allard’s expression softens slightly. “He’s been by your side since they brought you in. Only left when ordered.”

Of course. Hargen has always protected me as much as his position allows. The bond between us gives him little choice, but I’ve long suspected his care goes beyond magical compulsion.

“How bad is it?” I ask, gesturing weakly to my own body. “The damage.”

“Bad enough.” He doesn’t sugarcoat it. “They pushed too far. Tore pathways in your mind that may never fully heal.”

I absorb this, the reality of what they’ve done to me settling like lead in my bones. “And Creed?”

“Focused on Elena now. You’re secondary. Useful if you recover, disposable if you don’t.”

The brutal truth doesn’t surprise me. I’ve always been a means to an end.

“My daughter,” I insist. “I need to warn her.”

“You can barely sit up,” Allard reminds me gently. “And she’s surrounded by Syndicate surveillance. Do you honestly think you could reach out to her?”

Logic. Cold and irrefutable. I close my eyes against the truth of it.

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