Elara's POV
I stood frozen near the exit, the door cooling my back as my mind raced to process the words. I was caught completely off guard by her outburst —a visceral shock that rattled my composure to its core. The sheer malice in Ravenna's raspy voice was terrifying, but it was the absolute certainty in her eyes that made my blood run cold and sent a shiver trailing down my spine.
"My team is not out there waiting to collaborate with a human," Ravenna sneered, her chest heaving as she glared at me from the metal table. "My team retreated weeks ago to protect our borders. There is no rescue party, doctor. You are being played."
My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. A cold knot of dread tightened in my stomach as her words sank in, each syllable twisting deeper into my consciousness.
