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36

The next morning, the air in the office was thick with tension.

Matthew had left early for the Summit of Shadows, and the weight of his absence hung heavily over me.

The silence in the office felt different now—charged, as if something important was waiting to unfold.

I sat at my desk, staring at my computer screen, but my mind kept drifting back to the conversation we had last night.

The key. The Vault of Thorns. Ruelle. Every detail clung to me like a shadow, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something monumental was about to happen.

Suddenly, the door to my office opened, and Julian strolled in, his usual smirk plastered on his face. He leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, his tone teasing but with a hint of concern.

I forced a smile, though I couldn’t quite shake the anxiety gnawing at me. “Just tired, I guess.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. You sure it’s not because your husband isn’t here? I know the guy is a pain in the ass, but you’ve been looking a little... distracted since he left.”

I sighed, resting my chin in my hand. “It’s just... everything’s so complicated right now. I don’t even know what to think about all this vampire stuff.”

Julian shrugged. “Yeah, I get that. But you’ve got to admit, it’s a hell of a ride. I mean, not every day you get to be married to a centuries-old vampire prince. That’s gotta come with some perks, right?”

I rolled my eyes. “Right. Perks like almost being killed by rogue vampires, kidnapped by Ruelle Margo, and dealing with a secret royal key that could end the world as we know it.”

Julian laughed, but there was a spark of seriousness in his eyes. “Okay, okay. But listen, Gabrielle, you’ve got to know one thing. Matthew cares about you. I know he’s hard to read, but trust me, he’d go to the ends of the earth for you.”

I nodded, though a part of me wasn’t sure if that was enough. If anything, I feared I was in way over my head.

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen.

It was a text from Matthew.

The summit is running longer than expected. Keep your guard up. Ruelle’s got more tricks up his sleeve than we know. I’ll be back soon. Stay safe, Gabrielle.

I felt my stomach drop as I read his message. The cryptic tone only added to the dread already settling in my chest.

“Everything okay?” Julian asked, noticing my change in demeanor.

I nodded, forcing a smile. “Just Matthew checking in.”

Julian gave me a knowing look. “Right. You two are cute. It’s sickening, really.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re one to talk. You and that smirk of yours are practically a package deal.”

His grin widened, but before he could respond, the office phone rang. I answered it on instinct, trying to push the conversation to the back of my mind.

“Gabrielle,” a voice said on the other end. It was sharp, urgent.

“Ruelle,” I muttered under my breath.

“Don’t try anything funny, Gabrielle,” he warned, his tone colder than I remembered. “The key’s power is stronger than you think, and I can feel its pull even from miles away. If you don’t want to see your precious Matthew’s blood spilled, you’ll return it to me.”

I bit my lip, fighting the fear that rose in my chest. “I won’t give it to you, Ruelle. You can’t make me.”

“Don’t be foolish,” he replied. “The key belongs to me, and I’ll take it whether you want to hand it over or not. You don’t want to find out what happens if I have to take it by force.”

The call ended abruptly, and I was left standing there, my heart racing.

Julian watched me closely, sensing the shift in my mood. “What did he say?”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “He wants the key. And he’s not going to stop until he gets it.”

Julian’s expression hardened. “We’ve got to get to Matthew. Fast.”

I nodded, but before we could make a move, my phone buzzed again.

This time, it was a call from Matthew.

I answered quickly, the relief flooding through me. “Matthew?”

“Gabrielle,” his voice was strained, distant. “I need you to listen carefully. Ruelle’s playing a dangerous game. Don’t trust anyone, not even Julian. The key... there’s more to it than I told you. If it falls into the wrong hands...” He trailed off, his voice trailing into a dangerous silence.

“What is it, Matthew? What’s going to happen?”

There was a long pause before he spoke again, his words heavy with dread. “You need to leave. Get out of the office. I’ll be there soon, but you have to stay hidden until I can reach you. Do not, under any circumstances, trust Ruelle.”

“Matthew, no, I—”

But the line went dead.

I stood frozen, staring at the phone in my hand, the room around me spinning. I turned to Julian, but his expression was serious now, his playful demeanor gone.

“We need to go. Now.”

I didn’t argue. I grabbed my purse and followed him out the door, my mind racing. What had Matthew meant? Why couldn’t I trust Ruelle? And why did I feel like everything was about to collapse around me?

As we stepped out into the elevator, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. And that was the moment I realized: Ruelle was closer than I thought.