Page 6 of Knot Your Fated M.U.S.E.

"Standard infiltration," I reply. "But we'll need to modify our approach. The target's condition is...delicate. And there's something else."

I pause, making sure I have their full attention.

The room goes still, even Dante's wheezing breaths quieting.

"The Council wants her alive and undamaged. But they were very specific about one detail – if we can't extract her safely, we're to terminate."

Stating that out in the open makes me frown.

The silence that follows is deafening.

I can feel the rage building in each of them, their scents sharpening with anger. Dante's spiced wood turning acrid, Vale's usual rain-fresh scent taking on an electric edge, Kieran's subtle pine becoming sharp and dangerous.

"Like hell," Vale growls.

"Agreed," Kieran says softly, but with steel in his voice.

Dante just swears, a string of colorful expletives followed by another hacking cough.

"My thoughts exactly," I say, a grim smile tugging at my lips.If we extract what we claim as ours, they can’t terminate anyone, right?"So, gentlemen, shall we discuss how we're going to save Patient 495 and tell the Council to fuck off?"

The energy in the room shifts again, but this time it's different.

Focused.

Determined.

We're killers, all of us.

Broken and dangerous in our own ways.

But this – feels like a life changing mission…one fate seems to present like a wrapped gift of sin.

Is it's because we see ourselves in this broken omega?

Or because we're tired of being the Council's attack dogs?

Or maybe it's simply because it's the right thing to do.

Whatever the reason, one thing is certain:

Nyx Blackwood's days as Patient 495 are numbered.

2

THEY’RE COMING…

~NYX~

Cracks in the ceiling.

Always counting.

One. Two. Three…

Thirty-seven total.

Same as yesterday.

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