Athena sighed shakily, one hand pressed against her ribs as though she could hold herself together by sheer force. Her pulse roared in her ears, each thud echoing painfully in her chest. She almost marveled at the sensation—how her own body betrayed her grief and frustration.
It was true she had no blood ties to them. Yet her heart knew what this meant. These people, especially Kendra—had been entrusted to her. She had promised their safety, sworn it silently if not aloud. And now it seemed she had gone back on her word. The weight of it suffocated her.
She hated it. She hated this feeling of helplessness. This sharp, choking sense of failure. She should have done better. She should have anticipated danger.
Security. If she had placed proper security around them, they would have seen the suspicious movements. They would have alerted her. They would have fought back during the abduction. But she had not, and now her people were missing.
