The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Larry grunted in agreement.

Huxley, hearing the affirmation, let out a sigh of relief and gripped Carl’s sleeve tighter, his gaze dropping as he lost himself in thought.

The group trekked on, the passage of tlost to them until a faint glimmer of light hinted at the end of their subterranean journey.

“Thank God,” Huxley exclaimed, spotting the brightness ahead. “Looks like we're finally going to see the light of day!” The oppressive darkness of the mine shafts had been nearly suffocating, and the promise of escape was a balm to his weary spirit.

Larry, however, squinted at the light suspiciously, his instincts on high alert. Things were never this easy.

If an exit was so conveniently placed, what was the point of dragging them down here in the first place? His steps beccautious as he whispered a warning to the others, “Stay sharp. Something's fishy up ahead.” They continued, the light growing stronger, beckoning them forward despite the potential danger.

Emerging from the stifling confines of the mine, they found themselves in a surprisingly large clearing.

“Did we actually make it out?” Carl muttered, disbelief etched across his face.

Larry’s brow furrowed tighter. He was half-expecting an ambush.

Free from the claustrophobic tunnels, Huxley took a deep breath, allowing himself a momentary sense of relief.

The last thing he wanted was to revisit the horrors of the mine. Although Larry and Carl were with him, that was still a terrifying experience.

“Tsk.” Just then, as if on cue, a woman adorned with a golden half-mask appeared, her form draped in a striking red dress that hugged her curves like a second skin. She oozed an air of mystery and grace.

With her hands on her hips and a silver fan in her grasp, she had the poise of a seasoned actress on stage, though how long she had been there was anyone's guess.

Her gaze swept over the trio, and with a flick of her fan, she clapped lightly, her laughter tinged with a hint of praise. “Not bad. You've made it here quicker than expected.” Larry, the only one with any real fighting prowess among them, stepped forward.

The effects of an earlier drugging had worn off, and his strength was nearly restored. But he knew this woman's skills were superior to his own; her mere presence, undetected until now, was proof enough.

“Who are you?” Larry's voice was flat, his eyes sharp.

Back hon Fariana Isle, his word was law, but here in M State, he was effectively alone.

The woman's lips, visible beneath her mask, curved into a mocking smile. “You're not worthy of that knowledge.” Larry lunged at her, but she anticipated his attack with eerie precision, dodging with effortless grace.

As she sidestepped, her fan snapped open, revealing needles that flew at Larry. He narrowly avoided them, rolling away, dust-clad and coughing up blood.

He hadn't expected to be bested so easily.

“That's the standard of Emerald Mountain’s disciple? Disappointing.” she taunted lightly.

Larry coughed up another mouthful of blood in response.

Mockery laced her voice as she continued, “You aren’t waiting for your precious senior and the Nine Mystics Society to save you, are you?” The knowledge that this woman was so well-informed about Vivienne and the Nine Mystics Society unsettled Larry. Why let them escape if only to humiliate them? He had a nagging feeling that there was more to their abduction than what met the eye.

“All those marks you left behind? My people have cleaned them up nicely,” she said, fanning herself leisurely as if sipping afternoon tea in a sunlit garden.

Just as despair was setting in, a sound echoed from behind them.

“Disappointing, you say?” From the shadows emerged Vivienne and Percival, hand in hand, their expressions unreadable.

The masked woman's sneer waned at the sight of them together. “Oh? You two are a pair now?” Anyone eavesdropping might've mistaken them for old friends.

“That's none of your concern,” Vivienne retorted, thrusting her needles at the red-dressed enigma, who dodged with a dancer's grace.

The woman laughed softly. “Impolite as ever. | held you as a child, you know.” Vivienne’s assault intensified at the revelation, but the mysterious woman parried each attack with seeming ease.

Larry, watching in disbelief, realized even Vivienne struggled against her.

“You're with F-Poison, aren't you?” Vivienne asked, stepping back.

The woman easily avoided Vivienne’s flurry, her disdain apparent at the meBooks Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

ntion of the name.

“F-Poison? He's not even in my league.” If F-Poison was beneath her, then a larger conspiracy was at play, and this woman's identity was beyond their reach.

“I must admit, Samantha did well bringing you here,” the woman continued.

Vivienne frowned, her suspicions with Mr. Wolf confirmed.

“Mr. Wolf, lend a hand, would you?” Vivienne called to Percival as she retreated from another exchange ith the masked woman. Percival chuckled softly. “Alright then.” No sooner had he spoken than he darted towards the woman, his movements sharp and forceful.

With Percival entering the fray, the tide of the battle shifted almost, immediately.The woman, sensing that the odds were turning against her, brandished her fan menacingly at the two men.

Larry, having previously witnessed the deadly potential of that fan blurted out a warning,, “Watch out, that thing's loaded with poison needles!”