The next morning dawned heavy and gray.
Emma stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of Skyler's penthouse, clutching a coffee mug she hadn't touched, staring blankly at the mist rolling over the city.
Skyler watched her from across the room, the lines on his face deeper than usual, his body still bruised from the night before.
Neither of them spoke.
Because neither of them knew what to say.
The knock came like a gunshot.
Skyler was at the door instantly, pistol hidden behind his back.
"Who is it?" he barked.
"It's Marco, Boss."
Skyler cracked the door, eyes like ice.
Marco — one of his most trusted men — slipped inside, looking tense.
"There's something you need to see," he said grimly, handing Skyler a small velvet pouch.
Skyler opened it — and his face turned to stone.
Inside was a single white chess piece.
The Queen.
Emma stepped closer, heart thudding.
"What does it mean?" she asked.
Skyler's jaw clenched. "It means someone's marked you."
Emma's blood ran cold.
"Marked me... for what?"
Skyler met her eyes, fierce and terrifyingly gentle at the same time.
"For death."
The room seemed to tilt.
Skyler crossed the room in two strides and caught her before she could fall, holding her tightly against him.
"It's the Andrellis," Marco said. "Or someone working for them. But this —" he pointed to the chess piece — "this isn't their style."
Skyler's face darkened.
"It's worse," he muttered. "It's internal."
Emma looked up at him. "Someone from your side?"
He didn't answer. He didn't have to.
The betrayal was written all over his face.
Skyler pulled back, cupping Emma's face. His thumb brushed over her cheek.
"I'll protect you," he vowed. "I swear on everything I am."
Emma's throat tightened.
"I don't want to be your weakness," she whispered.
"You're not," he said, voice shaking. "You're my reason."
The door slammed open.
Another guard rushed in, blood dripping from a cut above his eye.
"Boss! The safe house — it's been compromised! Someone tipped them off!"
Skyler cursed savagely under his breath.
Emma's hands fisted at her sides.
"No more running," she said quietly.
Skyler and Marco both turned to look at her.
Emma lifted her chin, forcing down the terror clawing at her insides.
"I'm tired of being a pawn," she said. "Teach me."
Skyler's brow furrowed. "Teach you what?"
"To survive," Emma said fiercely. "To fight. To defend myself. I can't just stand on the sidelines anymore."
Skyler's face was a war zone — pride, fear, love, and fury all battling at once.
"You don't know what you're asking," he said hoarsely.
"Maybe not," she said. "But I know what it feels like to be helpless. And I'm never feeling like that again."
Silence.
Then, slowly, a dark, proud smile curved Skyler's mouth.
"You're a fucking hurricane," he muttered, almost to himself. "And you don't even know it yet."
He kissed her — hard, fast, a promise of violence and love all at once.
"Fine," he growled against her lips. "You want to survive? I'll make you a queen this city fears."
Emma nodded, heart pounding, fear and excitement warring inside her.
Because the girl who had waited for a bus just days ago was gone.
And what rose from her ashes would be unstoppable.