Zina POV
The woman studied me for a long moment, her eyes scanning my face with an intensity that sent a cold shiver down my spine.
"You were never meant to escape that fortress," she said finally, her voice steady.
My hands curled into fists. "Yeah, well. I'm pretty good at ruining people's plans."
She didn't laugh. Didn't even smile.
"This wasn't just about keeping you locked away," she continued, her tone shifting, becoming almost… regretful. "It was about keeping you hidden."
My breath hitched.
Hidden? From who?
I shot a glance at the stranger beside me. His jaw tightened, and for the first time since we met, his face wasn't unreadable. Something flickered in his eyes—unease.
A bad feeling settled in my stomach.
"You don't remember, do you?" the woman pressed, taking a step closer.
Something about the way she looked at me made my skin prickle, like she was searching for something familiar in my face.
I forced myself to hold my ground. "Remember what?"
A pause.
