Family
THE JASMINE LOCKET PART I: THE THEATER OF CRUELTY The morning air outside the Corte Familiar de Monteluz

I was still in uniform, the harsh afternoon light flickering across the faded walls of Cedar Barracks

1. The Uninvited Shadow The cliffs along Cragmere Coast jutted like jagged teeth gnashing into a storm-darkened sky.

“Only God can save you now,” Natalie hissed, her breath cold against my ear as I bled quietly on the

The thunderous slam of the heavy mahogany door wasn’t just a sound—it was a seismic blow that rattled

Chapter 1: The Christmas Servant The warm scents of sage, roasted chestnuts, and fine red wine wove through

The air inside the crown courthouse was heavy with the sterile scent of wax-polished floors, the lingering

My name is Megan Carter. At 34 years old, I’ve dedicated my life to architectural preservation, breathing

I’m Dr. Laura Bennett, 28 years old, and a neuroscientist whose life has been an unyielding climb marked

My name is Julia Hart, and at 32, I’ve devoted the last five years of my life to the 100-acre farmland










