chapter 98
Chapter 98
Kai, standing a step behind him, tensed instinctively. “Her aura…” he muttered under his breath. “It’s… different now. Stronger. Dangerous.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. Something in her presence triggered recognition–not a memory he had, but a gut feeling. Slowly, the woman raised her hand, and the faint glow of her magic began to shimmer through the air, swirling around her like a living
mist.
Adrian’s breath caught. He had trained to detect subtle energy signatures, but this… this was unlike anything he had ever
sensed. It wasn’t just cultivation–it was something older, darker.
The magic spread rapidly, forming images that flickered in the air. The lady’s true form revealed itself: long black hair floating like smoke, eyes that glowed crimson, and an aura of relentless malice radiating off her in waves.
Kai’s eyes widened. “She’s not… she’s from an evil line.”
Adrian’s mind snapped into focus. Every strange incident over the past days–the hospital attack, the car accident, the way she had survived things no normal human could–everything clicked. This was not coincidence. “She’s been planning this,” Adrian said slowly, voice low. “Everything was calculated. She was never just a victim.”
The lady’s voice was low, almost melodic, but laced with venom. “You… you dare stand in my way?” Her eyes fixed on Adrian. “I am here to eliminate anyone of the Goddess line. You, her allies, all of you… you will not reincarnate. You will not return. Your bloodline ends here.”
Before Adrian could respond, her body surged forward, a strike aimed directly at him, the energy behind it enough to crush bone.
In a flash, Liora stepped between them, taking the blow. The impact sent her staggering backward, but she didn’t fall. Her aura flared, sharp and precise, intercepting the attack with a shield of energy.
Adrian instinctively dove forward, prepared to engage, but the lady vanished before he could reach her. In the brief moment, her laughter echoed in the ward, cold and chilling.
Adrian stood there, pulse racing, mind piecing together everything. “It wasn’t an accident,” he muttered. “Every incident… the fire, the car, the hospital attack–they were all connected. It’s been planned to manipulate, test, and… she was sent here for a reason.”
Kai stepped closer, eyes wide with disbelief. “How did they know her? You said it wasn’t coincidence. Liora… how are you involved with her?”
Liora brushed herself off, her expression calm but her eyes hard. “I’ve been tracking her for years. She’s fast, clever, and always running. Every time she resurfaced, I followed. She’s been hiding, waiting for the right moment to strike. And she knew about this place. About you, about your recent actions. That’s why she appeared now.”
Adrian exhaled slowly, a mix of relief and frustration. “So she’s connected to the attacks, the car… everything.”
Liora nodded. “Yes. She is of the evil line, born with the purpose of destruction. Her magic is not typical; she carries the lineage of those who can prevent reincarnation. If she succeeds, no one of the Goddess line can return.”
Kai’s hands clenched. “And she attacked you…?”
Liora’s eyes softened just slightly. “She saw me as an obstacle. I disrupted her work, but she’s clever. She disappeared before I could fully engage. That’s why she hasn’t struck again. For now,”
Adrian’s mind raced, the weight of understanding settling over him. He had been underestimating the threads connecting these events. “And the lady in the ward… she wasn’t just unlucky. She was meant to draw us out, test our reactions.”
“Exactly,” Liora said, folding her arms. “She’s cunning, but she underestimates persistence. That’s why I’ve been following
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her. She always runs, but I always track. Now she knows she’s been found. Things will escalate quickly.”
Adrian glanced at the survivor. Even in her weakened state, the remnants of her true identity lingered, faint but undeniable. He felt a chill. “She’s more dangerous than I thought. And I… I need to prepare.”
Liora’s expression remained unreadable, but her eyes were unwavering. “Prepare. She’s not finished. And neither are the consequences of what has already happened.”
Kai let out a low whistle. “So… she’s from an ancient line, tied to the Goddess line… she can prevent reincarnation? And she’s been hiding in plain sight all this time?”
Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Yes. And that means every random event we thought was coincidence? It was designed. All of it. The moment she struck at the hospital… she wanted to lure me out, to see who would protect the survivor. To gauge my reactions. Everything she’s done, even her disappearance, was a calculated measure of our weaknesses.”
Liora finally stepped closer, her gaze locking with Adrian’s. “If you think this is over, you’re wrong. This woman… she will keep moving. She will strike at opportunities. And you are on that list.”
Adrian’s hand tightened around the edge of the ward door. “Then we’ll make sure she doesn’t succeed. She’s powerful, yes- but she underestimated one thing: our determination.”
Kai exhaled, glancing at Adrian. “We have to be careful. She’s not just strong, she’s… unpredictable. And if she’s targeting the Goddess line…” His voice trailed off, but the implication was clear.
Adrian nodded. “I understand. But for now, she’s hiding. We track her, we study her, and when she tries to act again, she won’t escape. Not this time.”
Liora turned her gaze toward the survivor. “Keep her close. She may appear vulnerable, but the truth is, she is the bait and the key. Protect her, or the consequences will fall on all of you.”
Adrian’s mind pieced together the warnings, the attacks, the chain of events. “And the survivor… was never really helpless. She was being used as leverage for something bigger.”
Liora’s eyes flickered with acknowledgment. “Yes. But she is also resourceful. Remember that. And remember–this woman will not hesitate to strike if she feels cornered. You’ve seen her strength, now imagine her fully prepared.”
Kai muttered under his breath, unease evident. “So we’re dealing with a woman from an ancient evil line, connected to the Goddess, and she’s targeting all of them… including us.”
Adrian’s smirk returned, faint but cold. “Then we’ll have to make sure she regrets every step she takes. Every trap, every attempt. We control the next move.”
Liora’s expression softened just slightly. “For now, But understand this–she always runs. She always disappears. And she always returns. You’ll meet her again.”
Adrian nodded. “And when we do, we’ll be ready. We won’t make the same mistakes.”
Kai’s eyes followed Liora as she left the ward, disappearing down the corridor. The air seemed to lighten slightly, but the tension lingered, thick and oppressive,
Adrian turned back to the survivor, his gaze steady, “Rest. I’ll handle what’s coming next. No one will get hurt under my watch.”
Kai remained silent, watching both Adrian and the ward. He still couldn’t shake the feeling that Liora’s presence, though an ally for now, carried dangers all its own.
Adrian’s mind raced. The pieces were finally coming together: every attack, every strange coincidence, every close call—it was never random. And now, with Liora here, the game had changed entirely.
But Adrian Cole was not the type to be caught off guard. Not by coincidence, not by chance, and certainly not by someone hiding in shadows.
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Chapter 99
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
