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 Assembly

Emerald Mountain apprentices followed

Percival,

This was the new and improved version she had recently developed, with the help of research from ST-1, far more effective

to Percival with a

anger over Samantha’s escape, and he smiled. “Indeed, we have. Let’s head

All this running around

and Percival headed

and Leopold exchanged looks

soft sigh, “Such a beautiful house, what a

the miniature bomb she’d acquired from Samantha

move, grabbed her

behind

“Boom!”

loud explosion and a burst of flames erupted behind them, reducing

found refuge within the

Vivienne, who, after medicating her, allowed her to reside with

ended up

aware of Mara’s past deeds and would have refused them entry, but with just

and seeing Huxley, who had passed out upon

medicated me, and from now on, I’ll listen

smeared everywhere, and Cecilia felt a mix

her niece stupid

Mara clung to her legs. “Auntie, my mother was killed by F-Poison, and the Boyd family is no more. Everything I did was for Huxley. Please

earlier, without causing trouble for Vivienne or indulging

Mara, orphaned so young, but

get up. From now on, work diligently for Vivienne

not for Vivienne insisting on housing Mara and her brother, Cecilia wouldn’t even bear to look

quickly.

attended to Huxley and confirmed he was fine,

been a constant presence in the room, tending to her brother with an unmistakable devotion. When the notorious F-Poison kidnapped him, she had thrown

wasn’t long before Huxley

at the sight of Mara, he seemed momentarily dazed before his voice, hoarse and

a wave of relief through Mara, her eyes glistening with unshed tears as she pulled him into an embrace. “Huxley, oh, thank