#Chapter 101: Destined For Blood

Aurora POV The scent of strong coffee drifts into the room before I even open my eyes. I hear the faint clatter of silverware against plates, quiet conversation muffled by the thick walls of the safehouse kitchen. My stomach turns, not from hunger, but from the ache of dread that’s been coiled there all night. I sit up slowly, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the thin curtains. My hair is a mess, tangled from restless sleep, and my throat feels raw. I must have spent half the night rehearsing what I needed to say, whispering words to myself in the dark like some desperate prayer. The burner phone Alek gave me is still tucked beneath the mattress, practically burning a hole through the bedding. It’s almost funny how something so small can feel more overwhelming than a gun pressed to my forehead. Though, I suppose in retrospect, it practically is in its own right. I get dressed quickly, throwing on a long-sleeved shirt that still smells faintl