ra

enter. This neutral territory was a sanctuary of minimalist wealth, accessible only via an exclusive keycard elevator. The air smelled faintly of cli

r federal high-security protocols for DARPA. Her

the polished steel doors even fully parted, an aggressive, cloy

the magazine in my lap until the heavy, suff

he had been giving his mistress instantly froze, morphing into cold, territorial fury the second his e

gerous rumble meant to force submission. "Did the insurance from your pathetic d

rious gaze without a flinch. "I am here under federal hi

Seraphina glided to his side. She wrapped her arms intimately around his

e asked, her voice drippi

tered, the word sounding

y manicured hand. I simply stared at it until she awkwardly let it drop.

n. "It's always good to have... Omegas... doing the foundatio

rve her. I could see a flicker of unexplainable threat

t her chest. "Project Chimera. Of course, you wouldn't understand the science. It's led by a brilliant woman, Dr. Pat

's ears with that, darling. Her brain struggles to process th

n, waiting for my shoulders to slump, waitin

most comical sense of

ister. "Then you must know their latest neural network model burned ou

ing her expression rigid and mechanical. She blinked, her mouth opening and closing

ty of my knowledge, a door down the hall opened. A

" the nurse cal

turn their heads toward the nurse

look back, but as I brushed past Seraphina's shoulder, I murmu

g them standing in the lobby, drowning in a su

rile sanctuary, I leaned against the wood. I covered my mouth with my hand and, for the first time