Why did guilt twist her gut as she handed over the bracelet?
Elara Voss hooked her lips, sliding the chain off her wrist and pressing it firmly into Lila Marek's palm.
Lila slipped it on, admiring the shine in the mirror with a grin.
"Got stuff to handle—see you tomorrow!"
Elara nodded, watching her leave.
The second the door clicked shut, she fastened the ink jade pendant around her neck.
A cold, calculated curve tugged at her lips.
She scrambled out of bed, searching for her phone to check the time—only to come up empty.
Frowning, she froze as a soft click echoed behind her.
A familiar, gravelly voice cut through the silence: "What are you hunting for?"
Elara's spine went rigid.
Heavy footsteps thudded to her side.
A tall figure blocked half the sunlight streaming into the room.
"You're still half-dead—how dare you get out of bed!"
Kael Voss scowled, his entire body radiating irritation thick enough to touch.
Gods, when he'd kicked down her rental door and found her pale, unconscious form, he'd wanted to tear the place apart.
How dare someone let her get this sick? How dare she ignore his parents' calls?
Elara turned slowly.
Kael's face—scarred, intense, etched into her soul—loomed inches away.
She'd hated him her entire past life. Blamed him for everything. Even cheered when he died because of her.
She still heard his final words, calm as death, as the Safe Zone lab's men dragged him away (set up by her and Felix Corin):
"I know you hate me. Hell, I hate myself for loving an ungrateful wretch like you. But when I'm gone… no one will protect you with their life. Elara Voss—take care."
Back then, relief had drowned out the faint twinge of guilt.
Later, when she was starving, freezing, fighting for survival, she'd finally remembered—with Kael, she'd never gone hungry. Never feared the dark. Never had to beg for a sip of clean water.
And she'd never once asked if he'd eaten.
Her throat tightened, tears stinging her eyes.
Kael jolted, his scowl softening into confusion.
"Who messed with you? Tell me—I'll crush them!"
Elara bit her lip, swallowing the tears that threatened to fall.
Her gaze landed on his hand, still clamped around her arm.
Kael snatched it back like he'd been burned, scratching his head awkwardly.
Shit—he'd let the crude language slip again. She must hate him more now.
He stole a glance.
Only to find her walking toward the bathroom.
Her voice was cold, firm: "I'm checking out. Now."
The bathroom door slammed shut.
Kael punched the wall, his fist halting mid-swing.
He squinted, mind racing, then spun on his heel and stormed out.
In the car, he dialed Reno Stark's number, growling into the receiver:
"How the fuck did you lose track of her? You let someone hurt Elara—and you didn't even notice?"
Reno's voice was panicked on the other end:
"Voss, I swear! I saw Miss Voss grab dinner, hit the supermarket, then head back. I didn't dare get close—but no one talked to her! Not a soul!"
Kael snorted coldly.
"Find out everyone she's interacted with lately. Especially that pretty boy Felix—check if they've been in touch!"
Reno agreed frantically.
Kael hung up, his expression dark and stormy.
Elara showered, changed, and tidied up.
By the time she emerged, Kael was back with the discharge papers.
She glanced at him, lips moving—but no sound came out.
"Brother" felt wrong. She'd never called him that, too ashamed to admit he was family.
"Kael Voss" felt heavier—weighted with too much pain, too much regret.
She owed him. But how to say it?
Kael watched her back, certainty sinking in: his sister was different.
Gone was the blatant disgust. In its place was something unreadable—guilt? Sorrow?
But she wouldn't even call his name.
Damn it—what the hell had happened to her?
He followed her out, carrying her bag in one hand.
His other arm outstretched to shield her from the crowd.
In the elevator, Elara swayed, closing her eyes.
She didn't know how to face him.
Should she warn him about the Apocalypse? Her family had money—an antique vault stuffed with valuables—but without a spatial ability, supplies would be useless.
Her hand drifted to the pendant.
Please let Lila's past-life claim be true. Please let it be a spatial artifact.
Otherwise, they were all dead.
The elevator was crowded.
But Kael dominated the space, keeping her isolated from strangers.
His eyes fixed on her closed lids, wild with possessiveness.
He craved to pull her close, to demand answers.
But he hesitated.
He'd already pushed her too far.
The car ride was tense, silent.
Kael opened his mouth several times, then clamped it shut.
Afraid of saying the wrong thing. Afraid of losing the tiny crack of progress—she'd responded to him earlier. A single "hmm," but it was more than he'd gotten in years.
Elara kept her eyes closed.
But she felt his restlessness. His frustration.
He was handsome—sharp jaw, intense eyes—but his brutality overshadowed it, oozing bandit energy.
Her parents had hoped the army would soften him. Instead, it had turned him into a leader of brutes.
Yet he'd built a company from scratch after prison. No help from anyone.
She'd never cared what it did. Never asked.
She opened her eyes, staring at his back.
This man—whom she'd wished dead—had loved her like a treasure. Until she'd killed him.
And he'd done it all with an ulterior motive. An unnatural, twisted devotion to his "sister."
She couldn't wrap her head around it.
Couldn't decide how to feel.
The Apocalypse was days away—she couldn't afford to get stuck in this limbo.
Sighing, she rubbed her temples.
This was going to be a nightmare.
When they got home, Mother Voss was waiting with dinner.
The villa was simple, elegant—understated luxury.
Elara's gaze drifted to the basement stairs.
Father Voss's antique vault was down there, crammed with priceless pieces.
Worthless after the Apocalypse. She needed to sell them—fast.
But Father would never agree.
Another headache. Great.
"Elara, you look pale—stay in bed after eating, okay?"
Mother Voss's voice was gentle, her scholarly elegance shining through.
"I will," Elara forced a smile.
Kael glanced at her, jaw tightening.
"Tell me what you need. Anything. I'll get it."
Elara paused mid-bite.
Mother and Father exchanged a relieved, hopeful look.
She swallowed, muttering a faint "hmm."
Three jaws dropped.
Kael stared, half-convinced he was hallucinating.
He'd expected sneers. Silence. Not a response.
A stupid, tiny "hmm"—but it felt like a victory.
He grinned through the entire meal.
The smile refused to fade even after Elara retreated to her room.
Mother shook her head, amused.
Father nodded, satisfied.
Upstairs, Elara locked her door.
She yanked the pendant off her neck, rummaging in the drawer for a knife.
She sliced her finger without hesitation.
Blood dripped onto the jade—this was her last shot.
In her past life, she'd overheard Lila admit the pendant was the source of her spatial Superpower—not something she'd awakened on her own.
That's why she'd traded the useless bracelet. That's why she'd risked it all.
She stared at the pendant, waiting for a glow. A hum. Anything.
Nothing happened.
Disappointment crashed over her.
Of course. Goldfingers were just fairy tales.
She turned to throw it aside—then a searing pain exploded in her head.
She didn't even scream.
Her body crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
Next Chapter Teaser
Elara wakes to find the pendant fused to her skin—and a vast, honey-filled spatial garden at her fingertips! But her joy shatters when Kael bursts in, catching her mid-experiment with the spatial ability. Their tense standoff is cut short by a Mutated Beast's roar—one has breached the villa's perimeter! Forced to reveal her Superpower to save them, Elara faces a brutal choice: trust the man she killed… or let them both die. Will Kael's obsession turn to betrayal? Or will the Apocalypse force them into a deadly alliance?