Chapter 116

Sofia. Silence stretched tight in the room, thick with unspoken arguments and barely restrained fury. I could feel the weight of their gazes pressing down on me, but I refused to bend. Not this time. Not ever. Nikolai exhaled through his nose, his jaw locked tight. "Sofia, you have to trust us." "Trust?" I barked out a sharp laugh, shaking my head. "Trust goes both ways, Nikolai. And right now, it sure as hell doesn't feel like you trust me." He didn’t flinch at my words, but something flickered in his eyes—something almost guilty. But before I could call him on it, Nadei moved. Fast. Too fast. A sharp prick at my neck sent a chill down my spine, my hand flying up instinctively. My fingers met Nadei’s, his grip gentle but unyielding as he pressed the syringe into my skin. No. Fuck. "You son of a wh—" The room tilted. My vision blurred, the edges growing hazy and dark. I staggered, reaching for something—someone—but arms were already there, catching me before I hit the ground. Nikolai’s