Siren of the Nightmare System

: The Sha

he suffocating silence of a threat lingering in the dark. Timothy collaps

clawing at the dust. "They told me you were dead,

reezing against her skin. He leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of her ear. "Shal

dark tunnel ahead, her mind already shifting gears

ailed, but Astrida was already turning awa

arked, his voice a smooth, amused purr as

in her vision. "If I want to dismantle the Mercer house, I need to hit them where they can't recover. To

end to crash

a command into the System. "I'm buying a shroud-cl

ing, possessive touch that sent a shiver of electric heat through her. "If they realize you'r

resolve hardening like obsidian. "I'm n

ense and desperation. Astrida moved through the crowd, wrapped in a shimmering, violet-hued cloak

r the dais, surrounded by sycophants and security, sat Lysander and Zephyrine. They looke

air, her knuckles whitening as she g

pered from the shadows behind her chair, unseen by

ssed back, her voice bare

inding gears, announced the next item. "A Core of the Anc

e cutting through the hal

t. It was an astron

ments. It was a gamble-a reckless, dangerous gamble.

chimed in, her voice distorted

nning the back of the room with a pred

Astrida count

narrowing as she looked toward the back. "L

his temper fraying. "I want that core. Nobo

the cold pull of the void in her veins, the

aid, her voice steady,

oulder, his touch grounding her, anchoring the wild surge of energy she was cha

lion!" Lysander shout

her voice echoing in the sudde

roned, the gavel hitting

pping toward the aisle. "You don't just bi

ed velocity. She felt the cloak's camouflage waver-a

trida said, stepping into

her personal space, his eyes searching hers, piercing through the faint shimmer of her disguise.

pered, the name a

the remaining essence in her pa

een!" she

rkness. Screams of confusion filled the air. Astrida didn't look back; she turned and bolte

of the lower tunnels, her chest heaving, her

rk satisfaction and possessive pride. He grabbed her by the chin, forcing her

ho murmured, his gaze trac

r him, finally succumbing to the overwhelming, desperate

s from her own, his scent-that intoxicating blend of

his voice vibrating through her very soul. "It's a wa