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Did he know what had happened to Alaister and Alice? Was he thinking about them right now?

“Our unit is already dealing with the missing persons cases,” he eventually replied in his usual monotone voice.

Was he distracting me, or was he really just thinking about the current missing persons cases?

I scrutinised him, unsure.

God, even when this man just stared, he looked professional.

The Bayla who had arrived at Vanderwood a few months ago would have run away from him. But a lot had happened since then. And if I kept running away, I would never get any answers.

“Mr. DeLoughrey. What exactly do you want from my mother?” I asked, trying to hide my nervousness.

“Bastien,” he cleared his throat. “Please don’t call me that.”

I nodded, confused, and once again the scenes from Alice’s diary flashed through my mind.

Had he been so formal and cold back then?

“Bastien…” I corrected myself. “I’m sorry…”

Now I was apologizing to a Ruisangor.

But he surprised me by falling straight into the house with the door.

“I suspect your mother has found a way to create hybrids.”

An overwhelmed laugh escaped my throat. “Hybrids?”

He didn't respond. Maybe I was really annoying him. Or maybe he really wasn't joking...

Realization turned my astonished expression into one of shock. “Hybrids...”

“Hybrids,” he murmured. “Diana is a clever woman. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

So, he didn’t just know my mother on a surface level...

He wasn’t the first person in this town to describe her as clever. I realized the implications of his words far too late.

With growing unease, I looked up at the DUIO security chief. “It sounds like you're implying that my mother experimented on me.”

He didn't bat an eyelid.

“Vague assumptions aren't sufficient. I need confirmation, and I can only find that with your mother.” Suddenly, he stepped closer. “Either you tell me where Diana is, or I'll be forced to take you to the DLSC and have them perform an in-depth DNA analysis on you.”

What?

I staggered back in shock.

Bastien's eyes began to glow red, and he stepped out of the sunlight and into the shadows, following me.

“Bayla is definitely not going anywhere with you, Bastien,” someone muttered irritably behind Bastien, who turned around reluctantly.

Confrontation

Christopher Tyng

I spotted Alarik – dressed in black pants, one of his tailor-made double-breasted matte dark green vests, and a white shirt underneath – heading straight for us.