The Million-Dollar Heart

Whitford's face twisted in agony as he crumbled to the floor of the cramped cell, his cries reverberating against the cold, grey walls.

Vivienne and Percival barely had time to register what had happened when the guards rushed in. They surveyed the bent iron bars with confusion etched on their faces. "Odd, the energy scan showed he wasn't this powerful. How'd he manage to warp reinforced steel like that?"

Vivienne's ears perked up. "Energy scan?"

You've got to be kidding me! How do you even measure such an intangible thing?

But the guards were dead serious. "The device was sent specifically from the top brass. Developed by some tech whiz, I don't get the science behind it, but the tech guy assured us Whitford wasn't a threat." Yet Whitford had just bent the bars. That meant either the device was a fake, or the technician in charge was a mole from the ancient warrior lineage, planted to monitor any prisoners of their kind! The couple realized this at the same moment.

Without hesitation, Vivienne pushed past the guards and strode into the cell. She fished out a pill from her pocket, pried Whitford's mouth open, and shoved it down his throat. Her movements were so smooth that Whitford had swallowed the pill before the guards could react.

One of them grabbed Vivienne's wrist. "What did you give him?!"

"Xiomara!"

"Vivienne!"

Xiomara. "We're from the NH Bureau, and during an investigation, we're authorized to use any means necessary on suspects. Let go of her!" "Xiomara, Percival's

male guard showed his impatience

didn't know whether to laugh at her naivety or marvel at her simplicity. "Sweetheart, how old are you? Didn't your teacher tell you

Xiomara, only twenty and seemingly older than Vivienne, flushed in embarrassment and anger

got churning in your gut is the same poison I fed your brother. I don't care what other

glared, his voice trembling as much as

whatever Vivienne had slipped into the pill. It kept him in

at him, her gaze cold and menacing.

The room fell silent.

guards thought she was

who this fierce woman was and why she

that Vivienne was always

not expecting such a delicate-looking woman to speak with such venom. It

pale to purple to black as he gasped, "You...

together her identity, and despite the torment, he conceded. "Fine... I'll testify for

ask,

gratitude as she nodded. "Mr. Wolf, think it's

I'm with you all the way. The ancient warrior lineage's roots run deep. Wouldn't be surprised

of their ranks, he might have some insight into

text is bound to

of Kaitlyn and