Chapter 194
Lynette's POV
The door clicked shut behind us.
I turned. Kael was already looking at me. His amber eyes caught the dim light from the bedside lamp.
"They said you're the killer from last night."
My stomach dropped. But I kept my face blank.
"I was with you all night," I said. My voice came out steady. Too steady.
Kael stepped closer. Not threatening. Just... present.
"So either they got the wrong person," he said slowly, "or someone's framing you."
I nodded. My mind was racing. Who would—
Wait.
"If Belser wanted to move against us," I said, thinking out loud, "yesterday would've been perfect. In that core area. All his people. All his territory."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Exactly. High security. Total control."
I met his eyes. "So... not Belser?"
"Then who else on this ship wants you dead?"
The answer hit me like ice water.
"Rezar."
Kael's expression darkened. He didn't argue.
I felt my pulse pick up. "So Rezar killed one of the enhanced guards last night. Made it look like me. Why?"
"To turn Belser against you. Or—"
"Or to force my hand," I finished. "Make me expose myself."
The room suddenly felt too small. Too warm.
I needed to think. Needed to—
"I'm going to wash my face," I muttered.
I didn't wait for his response. Just walked straight into the bathroom and shut the door.
The cold water felt good against my skin. I gripped the edge of the sink. Stared at my reflection.
My eyes looked too wide. Too afraid.
Get it together.
I splashed more water on my face. Counted to ten. Then twenty.
When I came out, my hair was still dripping.
Kael was on the balcony. His back to me. Shoulders tense.
I grabbed a hair tie from my bag. Pulled my hair up into a knot. The motion was automatic. Practical.
I walked to the balcony. Stood beside him.
The deck below was crawling with enhanced guards.
"At least twenty," I said quietly. "Maybe more."
Kael's voice was flat. "They're positioning. Like they're expecting something."
"Or preparing for it."
He turned his head. Looked at me. "They're making another move."
Before I could answer, a sharp screech cut through the air.
The ship's intercom crackled to life.
"Attention all guests. Please proceed immediately to the first-floor main hall. This is mandatory."
The voice was calm. Professional.
That made it worse.
Kael and I locked eyes.
He reached into his jacket. Pulled out two plain black masks. Full-face coverage.
"Put this on," he said. "We don't want anyone recognizing us."
I took the mask. My fingers brushed his.
For a second, neither of us moved.
Then I pulled the mask on. The material was smooth. Cool. It covered everything from my forehead to my jaw.
I was glad. I didn't want to be seen right now.
Kael's hand wrapped around my wrist. Firm. Grounding.
"Stay close," he said. "We blend in with the crowd."
I nodded.
We left the room.
---
The hallway was chaos.
People were pouring out of their rooms. Voices overlapped. Some angry. Some confused. Some scared.
"What the hell is this—"
"I paid good money to be here, not to be ordered around like—"
"Do you think it's another demonstration?"
I kept my head down. Let Kael guide me through the press of bodies.
My eyes scanned the crowd. Looking for one face.
Cole.
Where are you?
Kael's grip on my hand tightened. "Don't get separated."
I squeezed back. Once.
The warmth of his palm against mine was... distracting.
I forced myself to focus.
---
The main hall was packed.
At least a hundred people. Maybe more. They clustered in small groups. Some in expensive suits. Some in evening wear. All of them looked tense.
I spotted Cole almost immediately.
East corner. Near the back exit. His posture was relaxed. But his eyes were sharp.
He saw me too. Gave the tiniest nod.
I looked away. Didn't acknowledge him.
Kael's thumb brushed over my knuckles. A silent question.
I shook my head slightly. Not now.
---
The lights went out.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Then a single spotlight snapped on. Aimed at the main entrance.
A man stepped into the light.
White lab coat. Thinning hair. Wire-rimmed glasses.
Dr. Glenn Domich.
My gut twisted.
This wasn't good.
His appearance here meant one thing: the power structure had shifted.
Belser wasn't in control anymore.
Or he was sharing it.
Glenn's voice echoed through the hall. Amplified. Clinical.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I regret to inform you that one of our test subjects was killed last night."
The crowd erupted.
"What—"
"Killed? By who?"
"I want off this ship right now—"
Glenn raised a hand. The noise didn't stop. But it quieted. Slightly.
"We are investigating," he continued. "But rest assured. The perpetrator will be found."
His eyes swept the room.
I felt them pass over me.
My heart hammered. But I didn't move.
Kael's hand was still in mine. Steady. Solid.
Glenn smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.
"In the meantime," he said, "we ask for your cooperation. And your patience."
The lights came back on.
And I knew.
This wasn't just an announcement.
This was a warning.