Chapter 397
Chapter 397:
“You’re going to watch the stream?” she asked.
“I’m going to do more than watch,” Alistair muttered.
He stepped closer. The air between them charged with static. He reached out, cupping her face with both hands.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. It was a long, lingering press of his lips against her skin.
“Be careful, Little Wolf,” he whispered against her hair.
Skye closed her eyes, leaning into him for a split second. “I will p>
She pulled away, grabbing her clothes. A car was waiting downstairs.
As the elevator doors closed, Alistair pulled out his phone.
“Felix,” he barked. “Prepare the Nemesis. We’re setting up a mobile command center at sea. I want to be within striking distance of that island p>
The marina was a chaotic swarm of cameras, producers, and fans. The scandal had done its job; ratings for the resumption of filming were projected to be astronomical.
Skye stepped out of the car. She wore oversized sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. She looked like a movie star—untouchable and distant.
She saw Liam standing near the gangplank of the luxury yacht. He looked haggard. He leaned heavily on his cane, his knuckles white from the pressure. He shifted his weight awkwardly, wincing as he tried to maintain a dignified posture. His eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on her.
He took a step forward, his gait uneven and painful. His face crumpled with relief.
“Skye p>
She walked past him without breaking stride. “Save it for the cameras, Liam p>
“All aboard!” Director Gordon shouted through a megaphone.
The cast boarded: Quinn Moon, the gossip columnist; Leo Myers, the ex-husband of a pop star; Julia Hua, the relationship expert; and Liam.
The yacht roared to life, cutting through the harbor waters toward the open ocean.
Skye stood at the rail, watching the city shrink. She felt exposed.
Two hours later, the island appeared on the horizon—green, rugged, and isolated.
They docked at a private pier. The host, Mark, was waiting with a manic grin.
𝗝𝘰іn 𝗍𝗵𝗈𝘶ѕand𝘀 𝗈𝗳 𝘳еа𝘥𝖾𝗿𝘴 оn 𝘣e.co𝗆
“Welcome back to paradise!” Mark yelled. “And to kick things off… meet your new neighbor p>
A speedboat approached from the other side of the island. It slowed, the engine purring. Sienna Quinn stepped onto the dock.
She wore a red bikini and a sheer sarong. She looked stunning and predatory. She flipped her hair, smiling at the cameras.
The cast clapped politely. Skye watched, her body tense.
Sienna walked up the dock. She hugged the host. Then she raised her hand to wave at the group.
Sunlight caught on a ring on her index finger.
It was distinct. Antique silver. A serpent coiling around the finger, with two small rubies for eyes.
Skye’s breath stopped. The world tilted.
Flashback.
The cold warehouse. The smell of antiseptic. The needle coming toward her arm. The hand holding the syringe.
That ring.
The memory wasn’t just a vague feeling; it was a high-definition nightmare. She remembered the specific scratch of that silver snake against her skin as the plunger was depressed. She remembered the ruby eyes being the last things she saw before the darkness took her.