Chapter 256: Bound in Shadows and Dreams

Talia I opened my eyes to darkness. My mouth was bound, my arms were tied behind my back, and my legs were similarly restrained. Many things were missing from this picture—the car I had been in, the maid that Bane had sent with me, and most importantly, my son. There was no Lucian in my arms, his presence a haunting absence. Another peculiar thing was the gentle shaking of whatever means of transportation I was in. Beneath me, I could feel soft ridges, suggesting the back of a trunk or perhaps a van. I tried to think through the fog of disorientation and drug-induced stupor. The space I was in felt oppressively close, and every movement I made only tightened the tape binding me. Panic surged within me, mingling with a deep, primal fear. The air was stale, carrying a faint odor of oil and something medicinal. Dim light filtered through the small, grimy windows, doing little to alleviate the darkness surrounding me. My heart pounded wildly as I tried to make sense of my surroundings,