Seraphine's grip on Kana tightens as she walks swiftly through the dimly lit streets, her footsteps silent against the cobblestone path.
The auction house looms in the distance, yet her instincts scream at her to turn away.
She hesitates briefly, glancing at Kana's peaceful face, then exhales sharply and changes direction.
Her heart pounds. Logic tells her to deliver Kana as planned, but something far stronger gnaws at her core—a possessive, inexplicable need.
A voice in the back of her mind whispers that Kana must never be put on display, never be auctioned, never be seen by prying eyes.
Before she realizes it, Seraphine's feet are carrying her down a different route, away from the bustling market roads, deeper into the forgotten alleys where her secret hideout waits.
Her chest rises and falls heavily, frustration brewing inside her.
"What am I doing…? Am I really risking everything for a girl I barely know?"
She mutters under her breath, clutching Kana tighter.
