Page 30 of Heart of the Rebel Mate

As I step into the cold night, the stars barely visible against the dark, one thing is clear?—

If I'm not careful, they'll destroy her.

Iwon'tlet that happen.

The meeting had barely ended when I caught the sound of hushed voices nearby.

"...treating every new idea like a rebellion," someone muttered, frustration laced in their tone.

I slowed my steps, keeping my posture casual as I neared the corridor's entrance. Two men stood close, their conversation low but sharp.

"You don't just crush innovation because you're afraid of what it might mean," the first man continued. "Elara Thorne's project isn't a rebellion. It's a solution."

The other man scoffed. "A solution that undermines the Council's authority. You really think they'll let it stand?"

A cold weight settled in my chest, but I forced myself to keep moving, pretending I hadn't heard. Their voices faded as I stepped deeper into the hall, but their words clung to me like a thorn under my skin.

They weren't wrong. The Council wasn't interested in solutions unless they came from them. Anything else was a threat. And Elara's project? They saw it as a spark that could ignite something far beyond her intentions.

I pushed open the heavy double doors leading out to the estate's grand hall, needing air, needing space. But before I could make it far, a familiar voice stopped me.

"Adrian."

I turned, spotting Jonas standing near the balcony, a glass of whiskey in hand. His gaze was sharp, his expression unreadable.

Jonas had always been a shadow in the Council's ranks, never fully aligned but never openly defiant either. He was the kind of man who watched everything, spoke little, and somehow always knew more than he should.

I walked over, nodding in greeting. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Didn't expect you to stay inside that meeting as long as you did." He took a slow sip, his gaze flicking toward the city lights in the distance. "How's the assignment?"

"Complicated."

His lips quirked, but there was no amusement in his eyes. "Figured as much."

Silence stretched between us, the sounds of the gathering muffled behind the doors. Then, Jonas exhaled, shifting his weight. "You ever wonder why the Council is so obsessed with controlling people like her?"

I frowned. "They don't like unpredictability."

"Sure. But there's more to it than that." He turned toward me fully now, his expression unreadable. "You ever hear the name Lucas Thorne?"

The breath stalled in my chest.

"Elara's father," I nodded slowly. I had seen his name when going through Elara's files.

Jonas nodded. "He was one of the most respected urban developers of his time. Pushed for integrated communities, sustainable designs—ideas way ahead of his time. The kind that made the Council nervous."

I stayed silent, the pieces clicking together in a way I didn't like.

"He died in an accident," I said, though the words felt hollow now.

Jonas gave me a long look, then drained the rest of his whiskey. "Did he?"

A chill crawled up my spine.

Jonas clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. "Be careful, Adrian. You get too close to something the Council doesn't like, and they make sure it disappears."

He walked off before I could ask more, leaving me standing there with his words echoing in my head.

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