CHAPTER 21: THE FAMILY REUNION

Sebastian looked older than the man in the photograph but stronger than anyone expected.

He wore a dark suit and the same silver ring Daniel carried.

Adrian looked between them.

“Why does Daniel wear your ring?”

Sebastian smiled.

“Because he was supposed to inherit everything.”

Daniel stood and faced the guards.

“You promised Eli would remain free.”

“I promised nothing.”

Alistair tried to speak through his breathing mask.

Sebastian silenced him with the press of a button.

“Families are disappointing things,” Sebastian said. “They confuse love with ownership.”

Adrian tightened his grip on the cane.

“You destroyed mine.”

“No. I improved it.”

He pointed toward the glass chambers.

“Your father wanted to cure paralysis. You wanted to save your infant son. I simply removed the moral weakness from your ambitions.”

Eli looked at the empty chambers.

“What happened to the other children?”

Sebastian’s smile faded.

“Most were unstable.”

Emma covered Eli’s ears, but he pulled away.

“I want to hear.”

Sebastian studied him.

“You are stronger than the others.”

Daniel moved protectively in front of Eli.

“You will not touch him.”

“Your loyalty has always been temporary.”

Sebastian raised a small remote.

Daniel’s body suddenly locked.

He fell to one knee.

The scars along his neck flashed beneath his skin.

Emma screamed his name.

Sebastian pressed another button.

Adrian’s implant activated.

Pain ripped through his spine.

He collapsed beside his son.

Father and son lay on the floor, both controlled by the same man.

Eli rolled forward.

Sebastian’s guards aimed their weapons.

“Stop,” Sebastian ordered.

He walked down the stairs and crouched before the boy.

“You healed Victoria. You awakened Adrian. Perhaps you can even repair Daniel.”

Eli stared at him.

“What do you want me to fix in you?”

Sebastian touched his own chest.

“My heart.”

Eli looked toward Adrian.

Then Daniel.

Then his mother.

“I’ll do it.”

Emma gasped.

Sebastian smiled and offered his hand.

Eli reached forward.

The moment their fingers touched, Sebastian screamed.

His guards lowered their weapons in shock.

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Eli had not awakened his heart.

He had awakened every injury Sebastian had ever forced his body to forget.