Page 99 of Betray Me
“What do you mean?” Erik asks.
“I mean The Architect isn’t dead, isn’t a ghost, and isn’t some shadowy figure from decades past.” Selena’s pale eyes meet mine with absolute certainty. “The Architect is very much alive, very much present, and closer than any of us realized. And now that Dominic’s eliminated, they’ll have to reveal themselvesto complete whatever plan has been unfolding since your grandmother first tried to escape their influence.”
Gusts sharpen to blade-edge, thick with ocean spray and the relentless drumbeat of waves against granite. Along the horizon, storm clouds gather like an approaching army, lightning flickering in their depths—as if the very elements conspire to push us beyond our breaking point.
But standing here on the cliffs where Luna and Erik once found love amidst manipulation, where we’ve just witnessed both murder and salvation, I feel the certainty that we’re finally approaching the truth.
Chapter 36: Safe Haven
Now
The enormity of what Selena just revealed—that The Architect is alive, present, and closer than we realized—hangs in the salt-thick air like a death sentence. My mind races through possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. If Dominic was just an enforcer, if there’s someone even more dangerous pulling the strings, then our nightmare is far from over.
“We need to get back to campus,” Selena says, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts. “Standing out here in the open makes you vulnerable to anyone else The Architect might send.”
She begins leading us away from Dominic’s body, her movements careful on the treacherous cliff path. The storm clouds gathering on the horizon seem to mirror the darkness closing in around us, but there’s something different about Selena’s presence—a sense of competence and protection I haven’t felt since this whole nightmare began.
“You killed him,” I say, still processing the reality of what just happened. “You actually killed Dominic to save us.”
“Some choices transcend moral complexity,” Selena replies without hesitation. “Dominic Griffiths was a predator who specialized in eliminating threats to the network. He would’ve tortured you for information before putting bullets in your heads. I prevented that outcome.”
Max’s hand tightens in mine as we navigate the winding path back toward the university. “How long have you known? About the network, about what our families were really doing?”
“Longer than I care to admit.” Selena’s expression grows pained in the moonlight. “My family built this institution, but somewhere along the way, it was corrupted. Perverted into something that served the network’s interests rather than genuine education.”
The familiar Gothic spires of Shark Bay University rise before us, and I feel something I haven’t experienced in months: relief at the sight of those ancient stones. It’s strange how the place that once felt like a prison now represents a sanctuary—the only place where someone with institutional power is actively working to protect us.
“As long as you remain on the island under my protection, you’ll be safe,” Selena continues as we approach the main campus. “The enhanced security measures, the isolated location—Shark Bay can be a fortress when properly defended.”
Luna breaks her silence for the first time since Dominic’s death, her voice small but steady. “What about The Architect? If they’re as powerful as you suggest—”
“Then we prepare for them methodically.” Selena’s smile is sharp enough to cut. “I’ve been building resources for years. Evidence, contacts, alternative power structures. We can begin planning how to expose and dismantle whatever remains of their operation.”
The promise of actually fighting back—of taking the offensive—sends adrenaline through my exhausted system. “You’re talking about war.”
“I’m talking about justice.” Selena pauses at the entrance to the campus proper, her pale eyes surveying the grounds with tactical awareness. “Get back to your rooms. Lock your doors and stay together. After what happened with Dominic, I’m doubling security around the dormitories.”
Her protective tone—the way she speaks about our safety like it truly matters to her—nearly breaks me with its simple kindness. When was the last time an adult in my life acted with genuine care rather than calculated manipulation?
“Thank you,” I whisper, meaning it more than any words I’ve ever spoken.
“Don’t thank me yet,” Selena says, her expression growing serious. “What we’re planning to do is going to be the most dangerous thing any of us has ever attempted. They won’t go quietly.”
“Good,” Max says, his voice carrying steel I recognize from our darkest moments. “I’m tired of them hurting people. Tired of running from shadows.”
Selena nods approvingly. “Then we’ll make excellent allies. But rest now. Heal. Let yourselves feel safe.”
As we part ways in the corridor, I feel something I haven’t experienced since childhood: the possibility of genuine safety.
“I can’t believe we’re here,” I say, sinking onto the bed with exhaustion finally claiming my adrenaline-fueled energy. “Actually safe, actually protected.”
Max settles beside me, pulling me against his chest with the gentle possessiveness I’ve come to crave. “Selena saved us. If she hadn’t shown up when she did…”
“I know.” The words come out rougher than intended. Because I know exactly what would have happened. Dominic would’ve put bullets in our heads and disposed of our bodies like garbage, just another tragedy in the endless catalog of the network’s crimes.
“Hey,” Max says softly, his lips brushing against my temple. “It’s over. We’re safe.”
I turn in his arms, studying his face in the warm lamplight. The sharp line of his jaw, the gold flecks in his brown eyes, the way his dark hair falls across his forehead. He’s beautiful, but more than that—he’s mine. Despite everything that’s tried to tear us apart, we found each other.
