Chapter 18: Necklaces and Threats

The blood on Elena’s necklace wasn’t hers.

But it might as well have been.

I stared at the photo on my phone, fingers trembling—not from fear, but from rage.

"Tell your hunter friend to stay out of it. One more step and we send her pieces."

I swore under my breath, pacing the length of my room. The walls felt like they were closing in. My thoughts raced, louder than the wind howling outside the balcony doors.

They were done leaving warnings.

They were aiming to break me now.

From the corner, Aidan’s voice was calm—too calm. “You don’t know if it’s real blood.”

“Oh, great. I’ll sleep better with that on my head,” I snapped. “You think they dipped it in ketchup?”

He raised a brow. “You get mouthy when you’re panicking.”

“Yeah? You get stupid when you try to calm me down.”

We locked eyes.

And for a second, something like a smile twitched on his lips.

But it faded quickly.

“I’ll increase the guard on her room. No one will get close.”

“They already did, Aidan,” I hissed. “This wasn’t a random threat. They got that necklace somehow. They’re watching her. They’re watching me.”

A beat of silence passed.

Then I asked the question I’d been dreading:

“Do you think it was someone inside the estate?”

Aidan didn’t answer right away.

He didn’t need to.

\---

By the time I got to Elena’s room, I was ready to tear the place apart.

I burst through the door so fast, she shrieked and dropped the box of cereal she’d been eating over the covers.

“Jesus, Rox!” she yelped. “Give a girl some warning—I almost choked on a Lucky Charm!”

“Necklace,” I said.

Her face went blank.

I tossed her my phone.

She stared at the screen for a long moment. Then: “Okay. That’s not a charming message.”

“Where’s the necklace now?”

“In my drawer. I took it off before the shower—wait.” Her eyes narrowed. “You think someone stole it?”

“I don’t think,” I said. “I know.”

Ethan stepped into the room behind her, frowning. “I haven’t left her side all day.”

“Then you’ve got someone sneaking past you,” I said.

He folded his arms. “Impossible.”

“You’re not that special, furball,” Elena muttered, already yanking open drawers.

Sure enough, the necklace was gone.

“Elena,” I said, voice low, “you’re not leaving this wing until I figure this out.”

She stared at me. “Okay. But if this is your way of keeping me from my favorite dumpling place on 9th Street—just know I’ll never forgive you.”

Ethan gave her a sideways look. “They threatened to send you in pieces and you’re worried about dumplings?”

“Obviously! What am I supposed to do, let the enemy win and go hungry?”

Despite the tension, I cracked a smile.

Aidan appeared in the doorway behind me.

“We need to talk,” he said.

Elena gave him a mock salute. “Have fun, lovebirds. Try not to break anything this time.”

Ethan gave me a slow look. “...Wait. What did she mean by this time?”

I didn’t respond.

I just walked past him.

Let him stew.

\---

We ended up in one of the training chambers—a large, open space in the lower levels of the estate, all stone floors and weapon racks.

I paced while Aidan watched me from a corner, arms crossed.

“What are you thinking?” he finally asked.

“I’m thinking I was wrong,” I muttered. “I thought I could play this slow. Thought I could sneak around, dig things up little by little. But someone’s onto me.”

“Because they know you’re not just here to be Luna.”

I turned sharply. “Are you saying that like it’s a surprise?”

“No,” he said. “I’m saying it like I don’t care.”

I blinked.

“I knew from the moment you held that knife to my throat in the alley that you weren’t here for love,” he said. “You had that look—like someone who’s lost everything. Someone with a purpose.”

My throat tightened.

“I just didn’t expect you to start meaning something to me,” he added softly.

The room went silent.

I stared at him.

He stared at me.

And for a terrifying second—I didn’t want to leave.

Didn’t want to run.

Didn’t want to finish the mission.

I wanted to stay.

“Don’t do that,” I said, stepping back.

“Do what?”

“Make this real.”

“It is real,” he said. “You just don’t want to admit it.”

\---

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

Elena was safe—for now.

But the Bloodfangs were done playing.

And so was I.

So I headed back to the Luna’s study.

The file I’d found—Ryder’s Silverlake assignment—still sat in the drawer.

But now I noticed something I hadn’t before.

A second file.

Hidden beneath the drawer lining.

I pulled it out.

And my blood ran cold.

“OPERATION HOLLOW BLADE – CLOSED CASE”

Signed by Gregory Thorne.

Inside were photos. Scans. Names.

My father.

My mother.

Me.

As a child.

The case marked them as “associated liabilities.”

Targeted for neutralization.

And the last page?

Hunter: Jackson V. Kane.

Status: Active Asset.