Chapter 27 A Reckoning At Donovan Estate

• The Donovan estate loomed before them like a forgotten nightmare, its once-grand façade now choked by ivy and shrouded in mist. The iron gates hung broken, twisted on their hinges as if some great force had wrenched them apart in fury. Scarlett exhaled slowly, her breath curling in the cold air as she stepped through the entrance, her boots crunching softly against the gravel path. Behind her, Damien, Serena, and Gideon moved like shadows, their presence barely disturbing the eerie silence that clung to the grounds.
• Scarlett tightened her fists, her nails biting into her palms hard enough to leave crescent-shaped indents. Vanessa is in there. We either save her or we lose everything again. The thought sent a sharp pang through her chest. She couldn’t fail. Not this time.
• Damien’s sharp eyes scanned the estate, taking in every possible threat with cold calculation. "They'll have guards inside," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "And not just anyone. Lucien’s men are trained."