Ava's heart pounded as she faced Aurora. The woman's smile was cold, sharp, and terrifying all at once.
"You've been hiding," Aurora said, her gaze sweeping the penthouse. "But now… you've walked straight into the lion's den."
Lucien's jaw tightened. "Aurora, enough. She doesn't need to know about this yet."
Aurora tilted her head, amused. "Oh, she already knows more than she realizes."
Ava swallowed. "What do you want from me?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Aurora stepped closer. "Information. Secrets. Memories that were stolen from you… that some very powerful people want back."
Lucien's hand brushed against Ava's lower back, protective, possessive. She leaned into him without thinking. The simple contact made her pulse spike, her cheeks heat up.
"You see, Ava," Aurora continued, "your life wasn't erased by accident. Someone—someone very high up—didn't want you remembering the truth. And now that you're awake… you're dangerous."
Ava's stomach twisted. "Dangerous? Me?"
"Yes," Aurora said softly. "Because your memories hold something… something that can topple empires."
Lucien stepped forward, shielding her instinctively. "Do not scare her any more than necessary."
Aurora smirked. "I'm not scaring her. I'm just telling her the truth."
Ava looked between the two of them, her chest tightening. Lucien's proximity made her want to forget everything else in the world. His eyes held hers, dark and intense, as if daring her to trust him despite everything.
"I… I don't understand," Ava whispered.
"You will," Aurora replied, stepping back. "Soon enough."