Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ATASHA'S POV : 80 55 vouchers I stood up from the bed , pulling the quilt away and folding it neatly to the side . My hands reached for the inner lining of my gown , and I tugged it off , revealing the dark clothing underneath . It was thin , tight , and flexible . All black . Cassian had personally chosen it for me . He said it would help me blend into the shadows , and tonight , that was exactly what I needed . The moment I had changed completely , I took my regular clothes and arranged them on the bed , stuffing the sleeves and shape with soft towels and spare cloths to create the illusion of a sleeping body . Then I covered it all with the blanket Genevieve had given me . At a quick glance , it would look like I was still lying there , resting just like they wanted . I approached the window . My fingers worked quickly to unlock the latch , pushing it open just enough to squeeze through . The night air was cold against my skin . My heart was already pounding . Outside the window was a narrow ledge , the stone overhang that ran along the perimeter of the mansion . It wasn't meant to be walked on , not at this height , not barefoot and definitely not when it's wet from the rain . But it was my only way to reach the opposite wing without drawing attention . Below me was a two - story drop onto stone tiles , and I had no desire to find out how much pain that would cause . Carefully , I stepped onto the ledge , keeping one hand braced against the outer wall of the mansion . The surface beneath my feet was rough and uneven , not quite wide enough for comfort , but enough to move . Slowly , I edged sideways , keeping close to the wall . I didn't look down . I couldn't afford to . The ledge curved at a corner , and I pressed my back tighter against the stone as I shuffled around it , breath held in my throat . From this angle , I could see across the courtyard , the guards were shouting orders , distracted by the commotion . The Demon Fang had arrived , just like Cassian said . Fires flickered in the distance . Screams echoed faintly . The chaos was growing , and so was my window of opportunity . After a few more careful steps , I reached the window to my father's study . I crouched low , gripping the frame . It was locked . Of course it was . I reached into the pocket Cassian had sewn into the side of the suit and pulled out a small flat piece of metal . A lockpick . He had made sure I practiced earlier , even if just on drawers . My hands trembled slightly as I worked it into the keyhole . I couldn't hear the clicks , not over the shouting and drums , but I felt them . 11:07 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 23 One ... two ... Then the softest shift . It gave way . 80 55 vouchers I eased the window open just enough to slide through , then pulled it shut behind me . I was inside . Now I had to find the map . The room was dark except for the faint glow from the dying fire in the fireplace . I crouched low , listening for any movement . None . I moved deeper into the room , careful not to make a sound . The fire in the hearth was low , just barely enough to warm the study . Cassian had warned me about it , told me that to keep the temperature stable , one of the omegas would come in every hour to feed the flames . That gave me a rough time limit , but not much comfort . If I got caught , no one would believe I was just lost . My eyes adjusted to the dim glow as I began my search . Cassian told me the map wouldn't look like a map . It would be hidden in plain sight , somewhere obvious , yet easy to overlook . " That's the trick ," he had said . " Your father is paranoid . He doesn't trust vaults or secret panels . He hides things where people won't think to look twice . " I turned to the shelves lining the back wall . If I were seated at his desk , these books would be behind me . Out of sight . Out of mind . That alone made me doubt they were worth checking but I had to be thorough . I skimmed the spines with my fingers. The History of Werewolves and Fairies . The Pact Between Fang and Fang : Werewolves and Vampires . Arecor : Founding of the Eastern Territories . All of them sounded useful . All of them were dusty , untouched . The shelves were too neat . Too curated . Nothing here looked even slightly out of place , I frowned . That wasn't like him . Even now , after everything , after suspecting that he might not even be my real father , I still knew the man . His habits . His paranoia . 11:07 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 23 80 55 vouchers This was someone who nearly gutted his Beta once because the man didn't knock properly . He was suspicious by nature , obsessive . If he hid something , it wouldn't be somewhere out of reach . It would be in front of him . Somewhere he could see it at all times . I turned away from the books and looked toward the fireplace across the room . Above it hung the infamous painting , a red horse on a white background . Legend said it was painted using the blood of our ancestors ' enemies . I'd always thought that was just a story meant to scare children . Still , the image unnerved me . The horse looked like it was charging straight at whoever sat at the desk . Was that the point ? A warning ? Or was it a message ? I stepped closer and examined the frame . No hinges . No signs that it had ever been moved . My eyes dropped to the mantel . Dusty . Undisturbed . If the map wasn't there ... Then my eyes shifted downward . To the desk . A large , heavy structure with stacks of papers , old maps , books , and one triangular paperweight near the center . Everything looked ordinary at first glance until I really looked . The paperweight was shaped like a pyramid , smooth , almost glossy . But under the faint light , I saw it . Etched into the surface , barely visible unless you looked closely , were faint symbols . Lines . A pattern of some kind . My chest tightened . This had to be it . I moved closer , reaching out to lift the paperweight . It was heavier than it looked . I turned it over , feeling along the base . There , tucked into the bottom edge , was a seam . Almost invisible . I didn't even get the chance to open it . The silence shattered with the faintest sound . A soft shuffle that's barely audible , but unmistakable . Then came the low thud of boots against the stone floor , slow and deliberate , just outside the door . My breath caught . My heart stilled . Someone was coming . 11:07 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 23 ... 80 55 vouchers I glanced around the room , eyes wide . There was no time to escape through the window . I couldn't make it to the bookshelves without being seen . The doorknob turned . No .... too soon . I dove toward the far side of the desk , dropping low behind it just as the door creaked open . 11:07 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 24 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. 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