Chapter 175
Lynette's POV
Kael was watching me. I could feel his eyes on my face.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
I blinked. Forced my expression to smooth out.
"Nothing," I said. "Just... the technology sounds terrifying."
He nodded slowly. "It is."
His hand moved like he wanted to reach for me. Then stopped. Dropped back to his side.
"Tonight will be dangerous," he said. "But these people—the ones attending—they all have contingency plans. Protection. No one comes to something like this without backup."
I wasn't sure if that was supposed to make me feel better.
It didn't.
"Right," I said.
He studied me for another moment. Then stepped back.
"Get some rest," he said. "I'll come get you when it's time."
I nodded.
He left. The door clicked shut behind him.
I stood there for a long moment. Then walked back to my own room.
---
The bed was too soft. I sat on the edge of it and pressed my hands flat against my thighs.
My fingers found the charm bracelet Elara had made. The dried herbs rustled under my touch.
Be careful. Come back.
Her voice in my head.
I closed my eyes. Took a slow breath.
Whatever I saw tonight, I couldn't react. Couldn't let anyone see what I was thinking.
I stood. Went to the bathroom. Checked my makeup in the mirror.
The heavy eyeliner was still perfect. The dark red lipstick hadn't smudged.
I looked dangerous. Cold.
Good.
I adjusted the silver mask on the counter. Made sure it would sit properly when I put it back on.
Then I sat down and waited.
Kael knocked at seven forty-five.
I picked up the mask and secured it over my face. The cold metal pressed against my skin, hiding my fear.
I opened the door. He'd changed into a dark suit. No mask yet, but he held it in one hand.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yes."
We walked to the elevator in silence.
He pressed the button marked "Upper Deck—Private."
The elevator rose. My stomach tightened as the numbers climbed.
The doors opened.
The hallway stretched out in front of us. Cameras everywhere. I counted them as we walked. One every three meters.
At the end of the hall, the double doors stood open.
And in front of them—
I stopped breathing.
Twenty men. Maybe more. Lined up in two rows.
Each one was massive. Close to two meters tall. Shoulders like walls.
But it was their skin that made my breath catch.
Purple-red. Mottled. Like a bruise that had never healed.
And their muscles—
They bulged unnaturally. Straining against their suits. I could see the veins standing out on their necks. Thick as ropes.
"God," I whispered.
Kael's hand touched my lower back. Light. Steadying.
"Keep walking," he murmured.
I did.
As we got closer, I forced myself to look at their faces.
Their eyes tracked every guest. Unblinking. Focused.
But there was nothing behind them. No thought. No personality.
Just... emptiness.
And their skin—up close, I could see it wasn't just discolored. There were fine cracks running through it. Like dried clay.
Like something had been stretched too far. Pushed too hard.
My stomach turned.
"This is their success story," Kael said quietly. Right next to my ear. "This is what the drug does."
I swallowed hard.
We reached the entrance.
An attendant in a crisp uniform stepped forward. He held out his hand for our invitations.
Kael handed them over.
The man glanced at them. Then his eyes went to Kael's face. To the ring on his finger.
His entire demeanor changed.
"Alpha Harrington," he said. His voice was smooth. Respectful. "We have a private box reserved for you on the second level. If you'll follow me."
I glanced at the other guests. They were still waiting in line. Being processed one by one.
We walked past all of them.
---
The main hall opened up in front of us.
It was bigger than I expected. Wider than it was tall. The ceiling was low—oppressive—but lined with recessed lighting that made the space feel expensive. Crystal fixtures hung at intervals, catching the light.
The floor below was filled with rows of seats. All facing a raised platform at the far end.
And above—a second level. A narrow balcony that wrapped around three sides of the room.
The attendant led us up a side staircase. Our footsteps were silent on the thick carpet.
The second level had private boxes. Each one separated by walls. Soundproofed, probably.
He stopped at one in the center. Opened the door.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable. If you need anything, press the call button. Someone will attend to you immediately."
Kael nodded. "Thank you."
The man bowed slightly. Then left.
I stepped into the box.
There was a low couch. A small table. A tray with glasses and a bottle of water.
And at the front—a panel of one-way glass. Looking down into the main hall.
I walked to it. Pressed my hand against the cool surface.
Below, the seats were filling up.
I started counting. Lost track around two hundred.
"How many people are here?" I asked.
Kael came to stand beside me. "Three hundred. Maybe more."
Three hundred.
Three hundred powerful people from the supernatural world.
All here for this.
"Limen Research Institute," I said. "A year ago they were nobody."
"And now they can do this," Kael said. He gestured at the hall below. "Which means someone gave them a lot of money. And a lot of protection."
I thought about the guards at the door. Their ruined skin. Their empty eyes.
"Those men," I said. "The guards. That's what the drug does?"
"Probably." His voice was grim. "Enhanced strength. Enhanced speed. But at a cost."
I looked at him. "What cost?"
"Their humanity," he said. "Their free will. They're not people anymore. They're weapons."
My throat was tight.
On the stage below, the lights were starting to brighten.
"It's starting," Kael said quietly.
I turned back to the glass.
The crowd below fell silent.
And the presentation began—