Lili’s fingers lingered on the edge of the trunk longer than they should have. A second too long. Then another. The officer shifted beside her, waiting, watching. She could feel the weight of his scrutiny pressing into her skin, the sharpness of his gaze slicing through the thin veil of her carefully crafted composure.
Why was she hesitating?
Her mind raced, flipping through the past twenty-four hours, combing through every action, every moment. What had she left inside? A weapon? A trace of blood? A mistake she hadn’t accounted for?
She couldn’t remember.
A flicker of doubt curled at the edges of her thoughts, cold and suffocating. She had been moving on instinct for too long—fighting, running, bleeding. The last time she had truly stopped to think, to take stock of her surroundings, felt like a lifetime ago.
What if—
“Miss?” The officer’s voice was patient but firm, snapping her back to the present.
Lili forced a breath through her nose, schooling her expression into something light, something easy. Relax.
With a small, almost sheepish chuckle, she popped the trunk. The latch gave way with a soft click, the hinges groaning slightly as the lid lifted.
Her heart clenched. It was empty. Completely, impossibly empty. Not a single bag, not a scrap of cloth, not even a spare tire. For half a second, she simply stared. The officer peered inside, his brows furrowing slightly. He had expected something. So had she.
Lili recovered first. With a short, breathy laugh, she gestured toward the empty space. “Guess I travel light.”
The officer’s frown deepened, but he said nothing. His flashlight swept over the smooth interior, searching, lingering for a moment too long—as if expecting something to materialize out of the shadows.
Goran watched from the car, his jaw tight, his hands clenched into fists. Through the side mirror, he caught the faintest flicker of confusion in Lili’s eyes, the way her lips parted slightly before she snapped them shut.
She hadn’t expected this.
The officer straightened, exhaling through his nose. “You should at least have a spare tire, miss.”
Lili smiled, feigning embarrassment. “Yeah, well… I like to live dangerously.”
He didn’t laugh. For a moment, silence stretched between them, fragile as glass.
Then, finally—
“You’re clear,” the officer said, stepping back. “Drive safe.”
Lili let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. With a nod, she lowered the trunk and turned back toward the car.
But the unease remained. Because she wasn’t sure what unsettled her more—the fact that she had expected to find something in the trunk. Or the fact that she hadn’t.
Lili slid back into the driver’s seat, but her fingers were tense against the wheel. The officer gave them one last glance before stepping back, signaling for them to move along. She didn’t hesitate. The moment the road was clear, she pressed the gas, smoothly merging back into the quiet, dimly lit street. The hum of the engine filled the silence between them, but it did nothing to settle the unease still curling in her chest.
Goran exhaled sharply beside her, rubbing a hand over his face before glancing her way. “For a second there, I thought you were about to run.”
Lili scoffed, her grip tightening slightly. “And get us shot? I don’t like my odds against an entire squad of cops.”
Goran let out a short laugh, but it faded quickly. “You hesitated.”
Lili didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes stayed locked on the road, the streetlights casting brief flashes of light across her face. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter. “I wasn’t sure what was inside.”
Goran frowned, shifting in his seat. “You don’t check your own trunk?”
The weight of those words settled between them, thick with unspoken implications. Goran studied her, catching the way her jaw tightened, the slight crease in her brow. This wasn’t like her. Lili never hesitated.
As the city lights flickered past, Goran leaned back, his body finally relaxing into the seat. The weight of the chase, the tension of the police checkpoint—it all seemed to dissolve into the hum of the engine. He exhaled, a low chuckle escaping him.
“You know,” he mused, glancing at Lili, “we pulled it off. No one knows who we are, no one’s chasing us. That deserves a drink.”
Lili kept her hands on the wheel, eyes fixed on the road ahead. The neon glow of distant signs reflected in her gaze.
“A drink?” she repeated, her tone caught somewhere between skepticism and amusement.
“Yeah,” Goran said easily. “There’s a bar not far from here. Decent place. Good drinks, no unnecessary questions.”
She arched a brow, finally looking at him. “And you just happen to know this place?”
Goran smirked. “Believe it or not, I know how to enjoy myself, too.”
Lili snorted, shaking her head. “Enjoying yourself usually doesn’t involve nearly getting arrested.”
“Exactly why we need a drink,” he countered. “Come on, Lili. We just walked away from something impossible. If that’s not worth celebrating, what is?”
She considered that. Logic told her they should be careful, lay low, plan their next move. But the adrenaline still thrummed in her veins, the taste of near-disaster sharp on her tongue.
“I should tell you no,” Lili muttered, as if trying to convince herself. “I should remind you that we still have a job to do, that time’s against us.”
Goran grinned, leaning slightly toward her. “But?”
A slow smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. “But… fuck it. Let’s go for that damn drink.”
Goran chuckled and shook his head, clearly enjoying this turn of events. “And not long ago, you told me you didn’t need a partner. Look where that led us.” His voice carried the weight of amusement, but there was something else beneath it—something teasing yet pointed.
Lili shot him a sharp glance, her smirk fading into something more serious. “Don’t make me regret this.”
Goran raised his hands in mock surrender. “Trust me, I won’t.” Then his gaze flicked to the road ahead. “Here—turn left and find a place to stop.”
Lili took the turn, pulling the car smoothly into a side street. The neon glow of the bar ahead bathed the pavement in hues of red and gold, a faint bassline thrumming through the air.
They stepped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against them as they walked toward the entrance. The sign above flickered slightly, the name of the bar half-obscured by a failing light, but the energy inside was unmistakable—laughter, music, the low hum of conversation spilling out onto the street.
As they approached, Goran cast Lili a sideways glance. “Try to have fun for once, will you?”
Lili rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She pushed open the door, stepping into the warm, dimly lit interior, the scent of whiskey and smoke curling through the air.
As they stepped inside, the bar felt like an entirely different world—an oasis of warmth and dim lights in the middle of the cold night. The rhythm of the music pulsed through the room, giving everything a sense of energy that matched the buzz in the air. Goran scanned the space, his eyes settling on a small table near the back, away from the crowd but still within reach of the bar’s lively atmosphere.
They walked up to the bar, the bartender giving them a friendly nod as they approached.
“What’ll it be?” the bartender asked, his voice low but welcoming.
Lili glanced at Goran, then back at the bar. She raised a brow. “Whiskey. Neat,” she said, her voice steady, but there was something in her eyes that spoke of a longer, more complicated night ahead.
Goran didn’t hesitate. “Same,” he said with a grin.
The bartender nodded, reaching for the bottles behind him. He poured their drinks, the amber liquid settling into the glasses with a satisfying clink. He slid the glasses toward them, his eyes flicking to the two of them briefly before he turned away to attend to another customer.
Lili took her glass in hand, lifting it slightly as if to examine the amber hue, before bringing it to her lips. The warmth of the alcohol slid down her throat, a familiar burn, and for a moment, the tension from earlier seemed to dissipate.
Goran leaned back against the bar, his gaze flicking around the room. “You know,” he began, taking a sip of his drink, “I didn’t think I’d ever be sharing a drink with you, of all people.”
Lili smirked, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “I’m not as bad as you think.”
Goran raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”
Lili leaned in slightly, her eyes narrowing in a teasing challenge. “You don’t know half of it, Goran.”
There was a brief pause as Goran took another sip. The music shifted, the bass thumping slightly louder for a moment before settling into the background hum again.
“So,” Goran began, looking at her with a hint of curiosity, “what made you really agree to come here?” He kept his tone light, but his eyes betrayed his interest, like there was more to Lili than what she let on.
She glanced at him, her eyes flicking to the side, thinking for a moment before answering. “You know… Maybe I did need a break. A moment to breathe. Not everything’s about running from something.” Her voice had a strange softness to it, as if the weight of her own words surprised her.
Goran studied her for a second, then shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “Well, I’ll be damned. Lili, the philosopher.” He raised his glass toward her in mock salute.
Lili chuckled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her fingers tightened around the glass as she looked out over the room. “We all need a little distraction now and then,” she muttered.
Goran saw the shift in her expression but didn’t comment. Instead, he took a longer drink, savoring the burn as he let the moment linger. A silence settled between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable—just two people taking a pause.
When the silence stretched on for a moment, Goran spoke again, his voice more serious. “You ever think about what you’ll do when this is all over?”
Lili’s eyes flicked back to him. “I don’t think about ‘when’,” she replied sharply. “There’s no end for people like me. Or you.”
Goran nodded, as if the words resonated in a place he didn’t want to acknowledge. He finished his drink, setting the glass down and signaling for another round.
“This one’s on me,” he said quietly.
Lili glanced at him, her lips pressing into a tight line, but she didn’t protest. Instead, she took her glass when it was slid across the counter and tossed it back.
The atmosphere in the bar had taken on a relaxed, almost carefree vibe, and for once, Lili found herself letting the conversation flow more freely than she usually did. The drinks had loosened something inside her, and the usual weight of the night seemed to slip away, if only for a moment.
Goran’s grin was almost too wide as he looked at her, his voice teasing, yet somehow lighthearted. “Another?” he asked, already reaching for his drink as he glanced at her, waiting for her response.
Lili hesitated for a second, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. She could feel the buzz creeping up on her, a lightness in her chest that she rarely let herself indulge in.
“One more,” she said softly, her voice low but somehow more relaxed than before. “Then we get back to business.” The words sounded almost foreign coming from her.
Goran raised an eyebrow as he took another sip. “Can you even drive in this state?” he asked, his voice filled with playful skepticism, though there was no judgment behind his words.
Lili’s smile faded for a moment, and she glanced down at her empty glass, the warmth in her belly now more of a reminder that she had crossed a line. Her head felt lighter than it should have, the edges of her vision softening. She let out a breath, her fingers tightening slightly on the glass.
“Shit…” she muttered, her eyes narrowing as the reality of the situation hit her. “I don’t even know what to do with the car.”
For the first time tonight, she felt a twinge of frustration. They couldn’t just leave the car here, not in the state they were in. And as much as she hated the idea, it was clear that the sensible choice was to find another way to get back.
Goran seemed to notice the shift in her demeanor. He leaned back in his seat, glancing at her with a mix of amusement and something else. “I can ask my friend to take us back,” he suggested, shrugging as though it were a simple solution.
Lili raised an eyebrow, eyeing him skeptically. “A friend?” she repeated, her voice tinged with caution.
Goran waved a hand dismissively, sensing her hesitation. “Don’t worry. You can trust him.” There was a certain casual confidence in his tone that made Lili pause. “He owes me a favor. I’ll call him, he’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Lili’s stare was piercing, as if she was weighing every word that Goran had said. She wasn’t used to trusting people—especially not in this line of work, where betrayal was as common as breathing.
“You sure about this?” she asked, her voice more serious than she intended. She wasn’t going to just hand over control to someone else, even if it meant putting her own plans on hold for a while.
Goran’s grin returned, playful as ever. “You really don’t like to trust anyone, do you?” he asked, his tone light, but his eyes studied her for a beat longer.
Lili didn’t answer right away. She knew better than to get too defensive, too quick. Instead, she looked down at her glass, now empty, and with a sigh, she placed it back on the bar.
***
As they stepped out of the bar, the cool night air was a stark contrast to the warmth inside. The streets were quieter now, the distant hum of traffic and the occasional laugh from late-night wanderers filling the silence.
Goran friend was already waiting outside, leaning against his car with an amused smirk as they approached. His gaze flicked between Goran and Lili with obvious curiosity.
“Well, well,” he mused, pushing off the car. “Didn’t expect to see you leaving with company.”
Goran sighed. “Nick—”
Nick held up a hand, cutting him off. “No need to explain. I get it. Mysterious night, a few drinks, maybe a little—”
Lili tossed the car keys at him, forcing him to catch them mid-sentence. “Drive,” she ordered, sliding into the passenger seat of her own car before Nick could make another comment.
Nick glanced at the keys, then at Goran. “She always this bossy?”
“Don’t encourage her,” Goran muttered as he climbed into the back.
Nick chuckled but didn’t argue. He slid into the driver’s seat, adjusting the mirrors before pulling out onto the road.
The ride started in silence, the streetlights casting long streaks of gold across the windshield. Then, as expected, Nick couldn’t resist.
“So,” he drawled, his tone dripping with mischief. “You finally got yourself a girl?”
Goran exhaled loudly. “Not this again.”
Before he could say more, Lili cut in smoothly. “What makes you think he did?” A smirk played on her lips. “I’m just a colleague. A dedicated one, really. I make sure to ruin every single one of his chances with any girl who so much as glances back at him. They’ll thank me later.”
Nick let out a low whistle. “Damn. You’re saying you’re doing charity work?”
“Public service,” Lili corrected with a smug tilt of her head.
Goran groaned. “Fantastic. I survive a job, and now I have to survive you two ganging up on me.”
Nick chuckled. “Hey, I’m just saying, maybe she has a point. You’re good at a lot of things, man, but flirting? Not exactly your strong suit.”
Lili turned slightly in her seat, catching Goran’s unimpressed stare in the rearview mirror. She arched a brow. “Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s someone out there who’ll appreciate your… charm.”
Goran shook his head. “Yeah? I’ll let you know when I find them.”
Nick snorted. “At this rate, I’ll be dead before that happens.”
As they neared Goran’s apartment, the city around them quieted. The playful air lingered, but beneath it, a familiar weight settled back in—a reminder that the break was temporary.
When they pulled up in front of Goran’s apartment complex, the engine hummed for a moment before Nick shifted into park. The glow of the streetlights cast long shadows over the pavement, the world outside feeling oddly still compared to the warmth inside the car.
Goran exhaled, running a hand through his hair before glancing at Nick. “Thanks for the ride,” he said, then turned to Lili with a smirk. “And make sure she gets home safely. If anything happens to her, my head’s the one that’s gonna roll tomorrow.”
Lili shot him an unimpressed look. “You should be more worried about waking up on time,” she countered, arms crossed. “I hate people who are late.”
Nick chuckled, tapping the steering wheel. “She’s got a point. Not exactly the best way to start the day, showing up half-dead.”
Goran sighed, rubbing his temples. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll be there.”
Satisfied, Lili leaned back in her seat. “Good. I’d hate to have to drag you out of bed.”
Goran opened the door and stepped out, stretching slightly before giving them both one last glance. “Try not to give Nick too much trouble,” he teased.
Lili smirked. “No promises.”
Nick shook his head with a grin. “She’s already planning my suffering.”
With that, Goran shut the door and walked toward the entrance of his building, the weight of the night settling back onto his shoulders. The moment of escape was over. Tomorrow, they’d be back in the thick of it.
Lili let out a breath and leaned back against the seat, watching Goran disappear into the building. Then she reached for the car’s GPS and quickly entered her address—an individual house just a bit outside the city. The route illuminated on the screen, a quiet reminder that the night wasn’t quite over yet.
As she settled in, she glanced at Nick. “Thanks for doing this,” she said, her voice lighter than usual, though still carrying that unmistakable edge of control. “I owe you one.”
Nick smirked, starting the car. “Damn right, you do. Chauffeur duty wasn’t exactly how I planned to end my night.”
Lili rolled her eyes but smirked back. “I promise I’ll call you a taxi the moment we stop.”
Nick shot her a skeptical look. “You better. I’m not sleeping outside your home.”
She chuckled softly, shaking her head as the car pulled away from the curb. The city lights blurred past them, the hum of the engine filling the comfortable silence. The night had taken an unexpected turn, but for once, Lili didn’t mind.
Nick glanced at her again, his curiosity evident. “You know, Goran’s mentioned you before, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen you.”
Lili arched a brow, turning her head slightly. “And? Do I live up to whatever nonsense he told you?”
Nick smirked. “Let’s just say, I expected someone… different.”
She hummed, neither offended nor particularly interested. “Different how?”
Nick shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road. “Dunno. More serious, maybe? More terrifying? Instead, you’re just—”
“Careful how you finish that sentence,” she warned, though amusement flickered in her eyes.
Nick grinned. “Let’s just say, I get why Goran trusts you. That’s rare for him.”
Lili’s smirk softened into something unreadable. Trust wasn’t something she thought much about. It was given, taken, and broken too easily in their line of work. She wasn’t sure if she trusted Goran, but she knew one thing—if he ever betrayed her, he would regret it.
Nick, sensing her quiet shift in mood, cleared his throat. “Anyway, you can relax. I’m not gonna ask a hundred questions about you.”
“How the hell do you know Goran?” She countered, turning slightly in her seat.
Nick chuckled, shaking his head. “Long story. Short version? I used to be an idiot. Goran bailed me out of some trouble years ago. Never let me forget it.”
Lili tilted her head, intrigued. “And now you drive him and his colleagues around?”
Nick laughed. “What can I say? I owe him one.”
Lili just hummed in response. The city lights faded behind them, swallowed by the quiet darkness of the outskirts. The road stretched ahead, empty and still, save for the occasional streetlamp casting fleeting pools of light on the pavement. The air was cooler here, carrying the distant scent of damp earth and trees. It was a sharp contrast to the smoky, whiskey-laced atmosphere of the bar.
Something about the silence felt heavier now. Maybe it was the way reality was slowly creeping back in, coiling around her shoulders like a weighted cloak, reminding her that this brief detour—this temporary ease—was just that. Temporary.
The drive stretched longer than either of them spoke, and by the time they reached Lili’s home, Nick let out a low whistle. “Didn’t peg you for the quiet countryside type.”
Lili arched a brow as she pulled out her phone. “It’s not the countryside.”
“Compared to the city? Might as well be.”
She ignored the comment, quickly ordering him a taxi before slipping the phone back into her pocket. With a sigh, she leaned against the hood of the car, crossing her arms as she glanced up at the sky. Out here, away from the city’s glare, the stars were actually visible.
Nick joined her, stuffing his hands into his jacket pockets. “You really didn’t have to call me a cab.”
“Consider it a thank-you,” Lili said, her voice lighter than before. “Not many people would willingly play chauffeur for strangers in the middle of the night.”
Nick let out a chuckle. “Goran’s a pain in the ass, but he’s a good guy. And you? You’re not so bad yourself.”
Lili smirked but didn’t respond. The wind stirred slightly, rustling the trees in the distance. It was quiet out here—quieter than she usually liked.
The glow of approaching headlights broke the stillness. The taxi slowed as it neared, the tires crunching softly against the gravel road before rolling to a stop in front of them.
Nick pulled open the door but hesitated, glancing back at her. “Try not to work Goran into an early grave, alright?”
Lili huffed a small laugh. “No promises.”
Shaking his head, Nick slid into the car. She watched as the taxi’s red taillights disappeared down the road, swallowed by the night.
With a quiet exhale, Lili turned and stepped inside, locking the door behind her. The moment she crossed the threshold, the weight of the night pressed back onto her shoulders like an old, familiar burden.
She barely had a second to process it before a presence in the dark sent a jolt of adrenaline through her. Then she flipped on the lights.
Fosin.
He sat casually on her sofa, one arm draped over the backrest, the other resting against his knee. He looked comfortable—too comfortable for someone who had clearly let himself in uninvited.
Lili exhaled sharply, annoyance flaring past her usual restraint. Alcohol indeed had a terrible way of loosening her composure at all the wrong times.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she demanded, her voice sharper than usual.
Fosin didn’t flinch. If anything, he looked even more unimpressed than before. “You have work to finish,” he said, his tone deceptively calm—at least for now. “Instead, you went on an unsanctioned killing spree, nearly got caught by the police, and then decided to drink on top of it?” His voice rose with each word, his irritation finally slipping through.
Lili met his glare with an unimpressed look of her own. “It wasn’t a simple killing spree,” she corrected, her voice steady despite the alcohol still dulling her edges. “I told you—I have a contact who’s going to help me get information. In return, I had to do him a favor. That’s how this works.”
Fosin let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And you didn’t think to clear this with me first?”
Lili crossed her arms. “I didn’t think I needed to. You want results, don’t you?”
Fosin’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t immediately respond. The silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken tension. Then, finally, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and fixed her with a look that made it clear he was in no mood for games.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Lili,” Fosin said, his voice low, a clear threat lacing his words.
Lili met his gaze, her eyes steady and unflinching. She wasn’t intimidated, but the weight of his words still settled like a stone in her stomach.
“Has there ever been a time I haven’t finished my job?” she asked, her voice cool, though the undertone of challenge was unmistakable.
The answer wasn’t one he liked. Fosin’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. Without another word, he slowly stood. He took a step toward her, and Lili braced herself, sensing the shift in the air before he made his move.
Then, without hesitation, he landed a sharp hit to her stomach. The blow was fast and precise—one of those hits meant to shock, to break concentration. Lili staggered back, her breath catching in her throat, but she didn’t gasp. She stopped herself in time, forcing the sharp inhale to remain contained.
Before she could steady herself completely, Fosin reached out, gripping her shoulder with enough force to leave bruises. He leaned in close, his voice quiet but seething with rage.
“Are you sure about that, Lili?” he growled. “You already screwed up with this mission when you told me the Gifted weren’t working together. You never consulted with us, didn’t even check if your contact was someone we could trust. And now you let some unfamiliar guy drive you back? Breaking one rule after another. You’ve crossed too many lines!”
His voice rose as he spoke, the fury boiling over with each word. “And you know what happens when you do!”
Lili stood rigid, the air in the room thick with tension. She didn’t flinch, didn’t show weakness. But she knew all too well what Fosin was talking about. She’d seen it done to others. She was the one who’d been forced to watch others endure it. The punishment wasn’t a threat—it was a guarantee. They would teach obedience through fear, through pain. And the worst part? She knew they thought it was for her own good, that they were “disciplining” her for her own survival.
Her muscles tensed, but she didn’t say anything. She couldn’t afford to show weakness—not now, not with him standing there like this.
Fosin’s grip on her shoulder tightened, his nails digging into her skin, and for a moment, she wondered if he was waiting for her to break.
“Do you want to test me?” Fosin spat, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
Lili let out a slow breath, her gaze unwavering. “Test you? I’m not the one with something to prove here.”
Fosin’s grip tightened on her shoulder, his fingers digging deeper as if he could crush her resistance with just the pressure. His eyes darkened with barely contained fury, but Lili refused to let him see any crack in her calm facade.
“You always think you’re above the rules, don’t you?” Fosin’s voice was tight, almost choking with anger. He leaned in even closer, his breath hot on her skin. “You think you can play by your own rules and still walk away without consequences.”
Lili didn’t flinch. “I’ve never played by anyone’s rules but my own,” she replied evenly.
Fosin’s anger only seemed to intensify at her words. His jaw tightened, and his eyes burned with rage. Without another word, he moved with a quickness that startled Lili. His fist landed on her stomach, sending a jolt of pain through her. She grunted but forced herself to remain upright. The sting didn’t stop the defiance in her eyes, though she could feel her body beginning to betray her.
“You think you’re invincible, don’t you?” Fosin spat, stepping back slightly. “You forget that you’re here because of me. You’re nothing without me.”
Lili refused to back down. “I don’t need you to remind me of my place.”
Her voice was steady, but it did nothing to cool the fury in his eyes. Fosin wasn’t done.
With brutal force, he slapped her across the face. The impact was sharp. He didn’t give her a moment to recover. As she staggered slightly, Fosin’s hand gripped her arm, and his voice came in a low growl, filled with cold fury.
“Let’s see if you can remember the rules now, Lili.” He leaned in close, his breath a hot whisper against her ear. “Name the first one.”
Lili swallowed the taste of copper in her mouth, her pulse hammering in her head. The world tilted with each breath she took, but she kept her voice steady. “Always listen to the boss.”
His eyes narrowed. “Good. Now the second one.”
Another punch landed on her ribs, knocking the air out of her. Her knees buckled but she quickly regained her balance. She could feel the blood slowly running down her lip, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
“Always succeed,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, but clear.
Fosin nodded, his eyes dark with anger. “And the third?”
Before she could answer, a sharp pain exploded on her back. The force of the blow sent her staggering forward. She felt the welt from her previous injuries flare up painfully as another strike landed. She gasped, unable to contain the noise this time. The pain was building, pooling into something unbearable. But she bit her lip and fought the urge to cry out.
“Always be careful,” she gasped out through clenched teeth.
Fosin stepped back, finally seeming to take some measure of satisfaction in her submission. His hand was still clenched into a fist, his eyes gleaming as he looked at her, but for the first time, a brief flash of something close to amusement flickered in his gaze.
“You’re learning, Lili,” he said, his voice colder now. “You’re learning your place.”
But Lili’s world had started to close in around her. The edges of her vision blurred as the pain overwhelmed her. Her body felt like it was sinking, the weight of it dragging her into a black, empty space. Each new hit seemed to amplify the sting from her earlier injuries, the force of them mixing together into a chaotic symphony of pain.
She tried to focus, tried to keep her senses sharp, but it was like trying to hold onto the edge of a cliff with slippery fingers. Her knees buckled again, but this time, she didn’t manage to regain her balance. Her body seemed to collapse on itself as the darkness encroached, slowly pulling her under…
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