The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Just two steps out the door, and Percival’s deep voice halted him. “Come back.”

Thomas froze mid-stride, protesting, “Percival, if we don’t chase her down now, it’ll be too late. We can’t let Samantha get away again.”

Percival helped Vivienne to her feet, casting a dismissive glance at Thomas. “We’re withdrawing!”

“But…”

Before Thomas could finish, Percival shot him a look that silenced him immediately.

Thomas couldn’t understand why! With so many of them against one, couldn’t they snatch Samantha from that person’s grasp?

Leopold was just as baffled, but he could sense the strength in their adversary. Maybe Percival’s reluctance to pursue was because their lives were more valuable than capturing one Samantha.

The Nine Mystics Society didn’t take orders from Percival.

Draven, looking toward Vivienne, inquired, “Young Master, shall we withdraw?”

Vivienne pulled two life-saving pills from her pocket, handing one to Percival and swallowing the other herself.

After ingesting her pill, she instructed Draven, “Everyone withdraw. Starting today, the Nine Mystics Society is on lockdown. No one leaves. Prepare our defenses.”

Her words left Thomas and Leopold in a fog.

Samantha had escaped, and rather than chasing her down, they were ordered to prepare the Nine Mystics Society for defense.

What did this mean?

Draven, long accustomed to Vivienne’s commands, understood her immediately, and with a grave expression, he confirmed, “Understood, Young Master. I’ll initiate Level 2 Defense immediately.”

Thomas and Leopold were utterly confused.

Level 2 Defense? What was that? Was there a fight brewing?

The apprentices from Emerald Mountain didn’t question it; they trusted that Vivienne had her reasons.

Draven led the Nine Mystics Society members away without another word.

Leopold resignedly passed on the order for the Nightfall

Mountain

only Vivienne, Percival, Thomas, and Leopold

magic on Vivienne, rapidly healing her. This was the new and improved version she had recently developed, with the help of research from ST-1, far more effective than

with a smirk. “Mr. Wolf,

no sign of anger over Samantha’s escape, and he smiled. “Indeed, we

this running around has

that, Vivienne and Percival headed

Leopold exchanged

glanced back with a soft sigh, “Such a beautiful house, what

bomb she’d acquired from Samantha

anticipating her move, grabbed

were a step behind but still dashed away at top

“Boom!”

behind them, reducing the

found refuge

uses for Vivienne, who, after medicating her, allowed her

also ended up

refused them entry,

who had passed out upon arrival and was

because I was threatened. My sister-in-law has already punished me. She’s medicated me,

and Cecilia felt a mix of

her niece stupid or just plain

F-Poison, and the Boyd family is no more. Everything I did was

she had acted like this earlier, without causing trouble for Vivienne or indulging in crooked schemes, she

feel pity for Mara, orphaned so young, but now she somewhat regretted

now on, work diligently for Vivienne and drop those crooked schemes,”

on housing Mara and her brother, Cecilia wouldn’t even bear to look at

quickly. “I understand,

and

devotion. When the notorious F-Poison kidnapped him, she had thrown herself into

Cecilia left, it wasn’t long before

Mara, he seemed momentarily dazed before his voice, hoarse and weak, managed to utter,

with unshed tears as she pulled him into an embrace. “Huxley, oh, thank God you’re awake. I was so