“One day, he met a girl. She talked too much. She laughed too loud. She saw past the claws, past the armor, and told him he wasn’t broken—justunfinished.”
Ben shifts.
“That boy was your dad,” I say softly.
He lifts his head. “Mr. Kuraken?”
I smile, even though he can’t see it. “Yeah, baby. Mr. Kuraken.”
“He doesn’t look scary,” Ben whispers. “He tells funny jokes and makes silly voices.”
“That’s how he fights now,” I say. “He uses laughter and kindness. But back then… your dad was dangerous. He was angry. And he got lost in a world that doesn’t care if you’re trying. It only cares if you win.”
Ben thinks for a moment. “But hedidtry?”
“He tried,” I say. “He tried for me. For us. Even when he didn’t know he had a son, he was trying to be the kind of man you could be proud of.”
Ben’s hand curls in mine. “Will he come for us?”
I press a kiss to his hair, breathing in the familiar scent of apple shampoo and fear-sweat and something uniquely him.
“He always comes back,” I say. “That’s the one thing he never forgets.”
The door creaks open with a metallic whine.
Ben stiffens. I pull him behind me, as much as the restraints allow.
Footsteps—measured, confident. A perfume of ozone and leather. Whoever it is, they want to benoticed.
My blindfold is yanked off roughly.
I blink against the harsh light. The figure in front of me resolves—tall, narrow-faced, Tilkan markings etched in silvery ink across her temple. She wears League black, polished and precise. Power radiates off her like smoke.
“You must be the mother,” she says with a mock-curtsy. “What a charming reunion. We almost didn’t bother bringing the brat.”
I say nothing.
She walks around me, eyes sharp, calculating.
“I wanted to see what made Redscale soft,” she murmurs. “Wasn’t expectingthis.”
Ben clutches my hand tighter.
“Leave him alone,” I say, voice like gravel.
“Relax,” she purrs. “He’s the star of the show. Didn’t you get the script? This whole charade is just Act One. Redscale’s going to have to choose.”
She leans in.
“Power… or love.”
I stare her down. “You think he’ll trade us?”
She smiles. “I think men like Jav don’t survive unless they’re willing to sacrifice things. And you—” she gestures to Ben and me “—you’re the sacrifice.”
Something cold and ancient coils in my chest.
“You don’t know him,” I say.
