ste'

ya never li

y were an echo chamber. When the pages stopped and the surgeries paused, when the hospi

fille

tories etched into alley walls. If she kept moving, kept watching the lives of st

like balm. The air smelled of aged canvas and lemon polish. High above her, the ceiling arched like a cathedral, desi

an abstract creation of twisted bronze and blackened steel. A mess

led Sons o

ys caug

orrow, but as fury conta

s just her and the sculpture. A private reckoning. She press

m drawn

oth, like it had been waiting for the

rned s

e he

Nav

ai

ugh, jeans worn at the edges, hands tucked into his pockets like he

about him fe

leste said, arching a b

calm behind his eyes. "Museums and art ga

pa

culpture like he saw more than angles and steel. But Celeste could fee

tle?" she asked, fol

tion. "A tribute to lost voices. Artists

st people didn't ev

ve," she

alk past this

e what's in front of them,"

t smile

as a comment abo

e mea

e's

ree feet away

voice saying his name. She'd been here, in this very museum, p

her knuckle and then turn to smile at

ty her. That

tied

d when the doctor said the match was confirmed. Held his hand again when the transplant was sudd

ter of privilege. Of strategy. Of backroom deals and powerful

from the same twisted sculpture that ha

ne?" he asked, feign

"Are you asking for safety

's not always kind to people who look

each her eyes, but it didn't need to.

her armor like silk. Invisi

e most people," she

blu

hon

n. "I've lived a life that make

the way she did it-like she understoo

get to und

lived because m

este stopped at another piece-a painting this time. A woman with half her face blurred away,

y favorite,"

ed his he

she's disappearing... or be

y light. She didn't wear makeup like a shield. She didn't hide the tir

ust a second-his c

with

h d

dn't know what

the villain she's

terrified. Remembered the last time he saw h

e me I'm not just

returned

e just pretending," Rafe said, voice low. "Fadin

yes narrowing. "T

ed what people hi

hone buzzed. A single message.

m:

The one who saw the over

firmation. Names

is pocket, controlling the smile

he said, alread

d. "Maybe I'll see you

ut her gaze lingered o

into the maze of halls, un

But something about

en. No

s bouncing off the glass as he disappeared into shad

just reven

was j

had jus