bChapter /b113

    EL b55 /bbvouchers /b

    It turned out the hot spring belonged to Logan. Emery wasn’t even surprised anymore. By now, she had a clear idea of just how wealthy he really was.

    “So… it’s just us here?” she asked, ncing at the steaming pools and then back at him.

    Logan shifted a little, almost like he hadn’t thought through how that sounded. “Well… yes. Just the two of us. Unless you’d rather I call people in but…” He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “That sort of defeats the point of rxing.”

    Emery raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching. “So this bis /byour idea of making me rx?”

    He gestured toward the water, trying to look casual but failing to hide the faint stiffness in his shoulders. “What? You don’t want to?” His bgaze /bimmediatelynded on her stomach. “Well… even if you don’t want to. I am certain that the baby will appreciate thisb./bb” /b

    Emery snorted. Logan had been using the baby as a reason for everything. Despite thisb, /bshe chose not to say a word.

    b“/bDon’t you like it?” he asked.

    “Of course, I do.” Who doesn’t want to rx and just have fun?

    Then Logan suddenly held her hand and pulled her inside. He led her through the main room and into the kitchen. Emery stopped short.

    The space wasrge and open, all pale stone walls and arched doorways, the kind of Mediterranean style you’d see in a magazine. Warm–toned tiles lined the counters, and copper pans hung neatly above the stove. The counters weren’t bare either, there were bowls of fruit already set out. Glossy apples, ripe pears, bunches of grapes, even a basket of figs and citrus.

    He pulled open the fridge, revealing that it waspletely stocked. Rows of milk and juices lined the door, vegetables stacked in neat containers, cheese, and packs of meat sealed and waiting. “If you want something heavier, there’s plenty of meat too,” Logan said matter–of–factly.

    Emery frowned. “Are we not just staying here for the weekend?” It looked like he wanted to stay for months!

    Logan smiled faintlyb, /bbas /bif he’d been expecting the question. “We could stay as long as you want to.”

    She gave him a sharp look. “You do know I have a job, right?”

    “You can work here,” he replied smoothly. “There’s an office upstairs, If you need meetings in person, I’ll drive you.”

    Emery narrowed her eyes. Something about how easily he said it rubbed her the wrong way. “What are you hiding, Logan?”

    Instead of denying it, Logan let out a short snort, almost amused. “It seems you already know me well.”

    Her face tightened. Inwardly, she felt her anger re. So he was hiding something. She knew it.

    Logan shut the fridgei, /itwisted the cap off a bottle of water, and drank before speaking again. “You already met my brother.”

    Emery nodded. “Yesterday.” The memory of Daemon’s sudden appearance was still fresh.

    She hesitated, then asked bluntly, “Does the King want me dead?”

    Logan lowered the bottle, his beyes /bsteady. “No. That would make him my enemy. And trust me, he bdoesn’t /bbwant /bto be my enemy.”

    b1/3 /b

    b5:03 /bbpm /bP PPD.

    He finished the waterb, /bbset /bthe bottle on the counter, and looked back at her. Emery crossed her arms, waiting.

    Finally, he said, “The Council called for a meeting.”

    Emery’s head snapped up, her ears almost ringing at the words.

    “This has nothing to do with me. Unlessb… /b“Emery’s eyes narrowed. “Did they invite you?”

    “Yes,” Logan said without hesitation.

    55 vouchere

    b“/bbWhy /bwould they suddenly call for a meeting now? And why invite someone known as the rogue king?” Emery pressed. Her arms tightened across her chest, and inside her mind, the pieces didn’t sit right. Does this mean they acknowledge Logan’s existence?

    The timing bwas /boff. She had just uncovered who she was. She was still searching for the truth about her mother. And Logan already suspected that the very people who buried her mother’s identity might be connected to the Council. And now, out of nowhere, they called for a meeting?

    “You said they hadn’t called for one in decades,” Emery continued, her voice sharper. “Since… when? World War Two?”

    Logan gave a single nod. “Yes. When it was about to happen.”

    Emery frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

    He set the empty water bottle on the counter. “The Council never convenes unless something big ising. They don’t waste their time on petty disputes. If they’re gathering now, it means something dangerous is moving.”

    Emery’s pulse skipped. She met his eyes, refusing to look away. “Then tell me. Why were you hiding me?” Isn’t this just a meeting to warn them that something dangerous is going to happen? Was hiding her nessary? It’s not like she’s been invited or something.

    Logan held her gaze. “Because bI /bwanted to make sure you were safe.”

    “Safe from what?b” /b

    He didn’t hesitate this time. “The unknown.”

    Emery blinked. “Unknown? Logan… you… do you know how ridiculous you sound right now?”

    “There had been… some problems,tely,” Logan’s expression hardened. “Werewolves who’ve been turned. The numbers ar increasing.”

    Emery frowned deeper, confusioncing her features. “What exactly do you mean by that?”

    Logan folded his arms. “There are others like you, Emery, born with Gene YL, but in them it’s so diluted it’s basically inert. The gene never reaches the activation threshold, so there’s no shift, no senses, no physical markers or supernatural abilities. bThey /bgrow up as ordinary humans, pass routine tests, live and die without ever knowing what’s in their blood. Most never awaken bat /ball unless someone forces it.”

    She swallowed, unease creeping up her spine. “And you think someone is… turning them?”

    b“/bbYes/b.” Logan’s answer was clipped, certain. “Someone is deliberately targeting them, exposing them to blood, bforcing /bthem to change. bThat’s /bwhy the number of rogue sightings is rising.”

    Emery’s stomach twisted. b“/bAnd the King met with you about this?”

    Logan nodded. “He did. bBecause /bif it’s true, then someone isn’t just experimenting. They’re building something. bAnd /b

    b2/3 /b

    5:03 pm P PPD

    whoever they are, they’re choosing their victims carefully.”

    b55 /bvouchers

    Emery opened her mouth to press him further, but before she could form the words, a sharp, ring rm cut through the house. The sound bounced off the stone walls.

    Logan’s face changed instantly. Whatever calm he had a moment ago was gone, reced with hard focus. He turned toward her, voice clipped. “Go to my office. Lock the door.”

    Emery froze. “What-”

    “Listen to me,” Logan snapped, already moving toward the hall. “There’s a weapon in the drawer, left side. The password is your birthday. Use it if anyone gets in.”

    She stared iat /ihim, stunned. “What do you-”

    “Now, Emery!” His voice was sharp, leaving no room for argument.

    Her chest tightened, panic rising as the rm kept ringing in her ears.

    b5:03 /bbpm /bbP /bbP /b