#Chapter 98: The Ties that Bind

Alexander I sat down in the metal chair across from the cage, the hard, cold surface digging into my back. The fluorescent light above flickered, casting long shadows on the concrete walls. The basement smelled like damp stone, mildew, and something older, something darker. The same smell that had lingered in this house for years, a reminder of things buried deep and long forgotten. But nothing stayed hidden for long, not with the way things were spiraling. It had been awhile since I’ve kept anyone down here, let alone some kid. Be he wasn’t just some kid. He’d hur tmy daughter, lead my kids on some hunt for power, or worse. Theo sat in the farthest corner of the cage, knees pulled to his chest. His hair was matted and damp, his eyes bloodshot like he hadn’t slept in days. But the look he gave me, the defiance that burned in his gaze, was familiar. Too familiar. I folded my arms, leaning back slightly, watching him through the bars. The tension between us was thick, a si