Chapter 1 It was midnight on Boaz Street , Orsin City . Beep beep beep- Sirens screamed as the Royal Special Forces - elite operators - surrounded the auction house , making it impossible to escape . " All units , lock it down ! " " Fox has been spotted at Waylen Auction House ! Her target tonight - Rothialand's ' Blood Ruby ' ! " " She can't get away ! " " Seal every exit ! Not a single bug gets out ! " But they were already too late . Inside , a thick , smoky fog had knocked out everyone - guards , big shots - leaving them slumped on the floor . Among the unconscious crowd , a woman in a sleek black velvet gown walked confidently toward the stage . She took a gas mask from her bag , sliding it on with practiced ease . Anyone watching the feed might've thought she was just another rich guest … until she pulled a hairpin from her hair , bent it into a lockpick , and jammed it into the lock of the safe holding the Blood Ruby . Click . The " unhackable " lock popped open like a cheap toy . " Sorry , folks , " she said with a sly smirk , winking at the security camera . " Thanks for the party , but I'm taking this shiny rock home . " Night - night . " Right there , with everyone watching , she snatched the Blood Ruby and pocketed it like it was no big deal . Yup , that was her . No one knew her past . No one knew who she worked for . But everyone knew her name - Fox . The greatest thief in the world , slipping in and out of palaces and vaults like they were nothing . The only agent ever given a 5S " global threat " classification . But deep in her mind was another name : Narissa Everton . " Little Narissa … my sweet flower … That lullaby from her mother . Too bad time had blurred the rest . All Narissa could remember was her mother's warm smile - nothing else about where she came from . 1/5 16:41 Wed , Aug 13 X +20 Chapter 1 With the Blood Ruby in her grip , Narissa was ready to ghost , same as always . But then- Bang ! A gunshot shattered the quiet . Narissa dodged in a split second , the bullet zipping past her ear and smashing a vase behind her . " Not so fast , Fox . " The deep voice echoed through the room . A tall figure dropped from the second - floor balcony . Dressed in black tactical gear that showed off his ripped build , the guy stood a towering six - foot - two , radiating pure , don't- mess - with - me vibes . His sharp jawline carried a deadly edge . Narissa grinned . " Well , well … if it isn't Bastien . Been a minute , huh ? " Bastien was Rothialand's top combat commander , the baddest dude around . Word was , nobody ever escaped him . Even Fox had been burned by him three times . No lie - this guy was the biggest thorn in her thieving side . But she'd also snatched 58 relics right under his nose , which was a straight - up middle finger to his ego . Safe to say , this chase had become personal . " Sorry , man , but this Blood Ruby's mine ," Narissa said , her grin fading as she flicked a handful of silver needles his way . Bastien dodged like a pro . Narissa didn't wait , vaulting onto the auction stage and flipping up to the second floor . " Get her ! " Bastien barked into his earpiece , eyes glued to her . " Seal every exit! " And just like that , a wild chase tore through the auction house's corridors . Narissa moved like a wildfire , sly and untouchable . Even in a tight gown and killer heels , she was unstoppable . Bastien was hot on her heels , relentless . They clashed in the stairwell . " Hey , Bastien , you've been chasing me from Primaland to North Ekloria , now Oravine , " Narissa teased , throwing punches . " You got a crush on me or what ? " Bastien's face stayed ice - cold . " Shut it , Fox . Hand it over . " Narissa backflipped out of his grab , landing a quick kick to his wrist . His gun hit the floor with a clank . Bastien switched to close - quarters combat , every move sharp and military - grade , backing Narissa into a corner . 2/5 16:41 Wed , Aug 13 Chapter 1 She saw it coming . In a flash , she yanked a dagger from her thigh strap and swung at him . They went at it , blade against fists , neither giving an inch . Then - slash ! Narissa's dagger nicked Bastien's sleeve , drawing a thin line of blood . He grabbed her wrist , twisting hard .. Clank ! Her dagger hit the ground . " Fox , you're done , " Bastien said , catching his breath . Narissa just laughed . " You think ? " With her free hand , she flicked a smoke bomb from her wrist . It hit the floor , bursting into a blinding flash and a cloud of thick smoke . Bastien flinched , shielding his eyes . When the smoke cleared , Narissa was gone . " Damn it ! " Bastien slammed his fist into the wall . That was when he noticed a playing card tucked in his sleeve - an Ace of Hearts . " Commander Harlow , target spotted in Corridor Three! " his team shouted through the earpiece . Under the moonlight , Bastien saw Narissa sprinting down Corridor Three . She even had the nerve to turn back and blow him a cheeky kiss . " Fox ! " Bastien growled , teeth clenched . " I'm taking you down myself ! " He stormed toward the command center , barking into his earpiece : " Lock every exit . No ID , no one leaves ! " She's not slipping out of this one ! " 201 Narissa dodged Bastien's relentless pursuit , slipping into the men's restroom at the auction house . That guy was like a dog on a scent , setting up a trap tight enough to choke . If she wanted to slip away , she'd need something clever - fast . In a stall , she grabbed her hidden toolkit and got to work . Off came the disguise , revealing her true face - soft , oval , with skin so flawless it could make one jealous . She swapped her outfit for a flowy white dress , looking like an angel who'd tripped into this chaos . No one would peg her as the sultry vixen from minutes ago . Truth was , nobody knew this was the real Agent Fox . As she stepped out , her ears caught a faint sound . ' Damn it , she thought . " They are closing in quick . 3/5 16:41 Wed , Aug 13 87 % X Chapter 1 A new outfit wasn't gonna throw Bastien off her trail this time . She bolted down the left hallway , heart pounding . Three seconds later , a searcher's voice echoed . " Commander Harlow , this is the last unchecked spot ! " " Keep looking ! " Bastien's voice cut like a blade . " She's close . I can feel it ." " Yes , sir ! " Meanwhile , Narissa hit a four - way corridor , stomach dropping . Dead end ahead , and boots closing in from every side . ' Is this it ? Am I really done for ? ' Her heart pounded like crazy . Creak . A door swung open , and a group of fancy auction guests spilled out of a private lounge , all chatter and clinking glasses . Narissa's fingers twitched , a thin blade sliding from her sleeve . ' No escape ? Fine . Time for a hostage . She scanned the crowd , picking her target , when- " Cressida ? What the hell ? I thought you were back home ! " A stunned voice broke through . Narissa froze . A classy woman , arm - in - arm with a sharp older guy , stared at her , eyes wide . But when their gazes locked , Narissa's breath caught . That face stirred something , a blurry memory from childhood . " No , wait ! " The woman squinted , shaking her head . " You're not Cressida . " It wasn't just her face - her whole vibe , her energy , it was all wrong . Then her gaze zeroed in on the small teardrop mole under Narissa's left eye , and something snapped into place . " You … oh my God , you're …. " Tears spilled as she rushed forward , voice breaking . " You're my Narissa ! My baby girl , gone thirteen years ! " She pulled Narissa into a tight hug , sobbing . " We've looked for you for thirteen freaking years . " Narissa wasn't one for touchy - feely moments . She could've dodged that hug in a dozen ways , but that voice - so warm , so familiar - and that face , so much like the mom she half - remembered . Is this really my mom ? ' she thought . For once , Narissa didn't pull away . She remembered she had a twin sister out there , too . Thud , thud , thud . Heavy boots hit the hall . Bastien's sharp , chiseled face appeared , sharp eyes scanning like a predator closing in .