Chapter 633

Theresa finds her Aunt Tania unresponsive and cold, realizing she has been poisoned with a deadly serum that will kill her within a week without an antidote. Bennie urgently delivers a chilling message from the Starborn Order, offering Theresa power and leadership if she joins them, but warning that Tania’s survival depends on their conditions. Filled with anger and determination, Theresa refuses to listen to their demands.
Professor K appears, bringing a glimmer of hope. He reveals that an antidote exists in a place he once guarded and that Theresa must retrieve it within seven days to save Tania. Despite initial suspicion, Theresa senses his sincerity, especially as his loyal dog interacts warmly with her own animals. Professor K expresses a desire to preserve the city’s warmth and life, contrasting it with the coldness of the Starborn Order.
Theresa learns from Lucas that Professor K has been living in the city, cared for and allowed limited freedom, often taking his dog outside. Reflecting on the sixteen dogs waiting at her home, Theresa feels a renewed sense of protection and comfort from her animals. When Lucas asks if she plans to leave again, she confirms she must go to Firestone.
Lucas offers to connect Theresa with the Solan Camp in Firestone, a large group of nearly eight thousand people who have been eager to contact them since Ansford was taken. He mentions Louisa, a girl Theresa remembers from a previous encounter, who has reached out on behalf of the camp. Theresa considers this new alliance as she prepares for the journey ahead, hoping it will help her save Tania and face the challenges from the Starborn Order.
Chapter 633: Trouble
“Aunt Tania!” Theresa’s voice cracked as she dropped to her knees, the hard stone beneath jarring her sharply. Her trembling fingers clutched Tania’s wrist, desperate for any sign of life.
But the skin was icy cold—not the gentle chill of sleep, but the unyielding coldness of death.
“Aunt Tania…” Her voice faltered, a knot tightening in her throat.
Bennie came rushing in, breath ragged, panic etched deeply across his face.
“Theresa! A message just came through from the Starborn Order!”
He pulled out a small device and pressed a button. A hollow, emotionless voice echoed through the room, each word deliberate and sharp, cutting through the heavy silence.
“Ms. Theresa, you never fail to amaze us. To the Starborn Order, you are invaluable. Tania has been injected with a special serum. Without the antidote, she cannot survive beyond a week. We have no intention of harming you or those dear to you. Join us, and everything will be yours. The great Starborn Order is your destiny. You will be its rightful leader. This is my promise.”
The voice was cold and distant, devoid of any warmth—like a god looking down on the world with a heart of stone.
Theresa’s chest heaved with rising fury, a fire igniting within her veins.
“Don’t listen to them,” she growled, her words cutting through the air with fierce resolve.
The sound of rattling wheels approached on the stone floor. An old man rolled forward, his loyal dog tugging eagerly at his side.
The dog barked happily, its tail wagging furiously as it bounded toward her.
It was Professor K—the very man she had once pulled away from the clutches of the Starborn Order.
His eyes, though aged, shone with a quiet light as he looked at her. The suspicion that had once clouded his gaze had melted away, replaced by calm and a flicker of hope.
“Don’t give yourself over to the Starborn Order,” he said softly. “I know how to save Tania.”
Theresa’s head snapped toward him, her voice trembling with desperation. “Tell me—how?”
“In the place I once guarded, there are doses of the antidote,” Professor K explained, wheeling closer. He gently lifted Tania’s arm, his hands trembling as he examined the pale veins beneath her skin. “She has seven days left. You must retrieve it before then.”
A fragile hope sparked inside Theresa’s heart, only to be shadowed by doubt. She narrowed her eyes, searching his face. “Why would you help me?”
The dog wagged its tail more vigorously, weaving around Theresa’s legs as if begging for affection.
Professor K’s voice softened, almost wistful.
“Maybe because my dog likes you. And I don’t want this place destroyed too soon.”
He had lived here long enough to see the truth with his own eyes.
He had watched her raise dog after dog, nurturing them with her own hands.
He knew then that her threats were empty.
She would never harm her animals.
The lie had cracked, and acceptance settled in as he observed his dog playing among hers.
This city was nothing like the sterile, cold chambers of the Starborn Order.
Here, laughter lingered in the air.
The remnants of an old civilization lived on in this place, standing in stark contrast to the Starborn Order’s cold vision of progress.
Here, warmth persisted. Even in a broken world, people had managed to create light.
It was not what they had expected.
Professor K sighed deeply.
“I want this place to endure. At least for as long as my dog still walks the earth.”
Theresa caught his words, feeling a tightness in her chest. Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
He shook his head slowly. “Don’t ask. Maybe when you come back, if I’m willing, I’ll tell you more.”
He reached down to pat his dog’s head. “Come on, boy. Let’s go home.”
The dog barked once more, circling Theresa in a final playful dance, tail wagging wildly before it followed its master away.
Theresa watched them leave, a knot of unease twisting inside her.
She turned to Lucas. “How has he been living here all this time?”
Lucas spoke without hesitation. “We haven’t mistreated him. We only prevented him from leaving the city. Some time ago, Elias brought your war dogs into town. They played with his dog. Since then, he often takes his pet outside.”
Theresa’s thoughts drifted to the sixteen dogs waiting at her home.
A warmth blossomed in her chest. She hadn’t expected her animals to become her shield in this way.
Lucas studied her carefully. “Theresa, are you planning to leave again?”
Her reply was steady, unwavering. “Yes.”
She had to make her way to Firestone.
Lucas hesitated briefly, then offered, “If you’re heading to Firestone, I can connect you with the Solan Camp there.”
Theresa raised an eyebrow. “Solan Camp?”
“Yes. Do you remember Louisa?”
The name hit her like a sudden blow. She froze, memories flooding back.
Louisa—the girl she had encountered in Firestone, traveling with that small convoy.
“I remember her,” Theresa said quietly.
“Louisa reached out while you were away. She said Firestone hosts a massive Solan Camp, nearly eight thousand strong. When they heard we had taken Ansford, they were shocked. They’ve been trying to contact us often. They want to meet you. If you want, I can tell them you’re coming. They can meet you there. What do you say?”
The chapter closes on a poignant note of resilience and fragile hope. Theresa’s grief for Aunt Tania is tempered by the promise of a possible cure, a beacon of light amid the encroaching darkness cast by the Starborn Order’s cold ultimatum. The arrival of Professor K and his loyal dog, symbols of enduring loyalty and the warmth of a shared past, remind Theresa—and the reader—that even in a broken world, connections and compassion endure. The contrast between the sterile ambitions of the Starborn Order and the lived warmth of this city underscores a central theme: the fight to preserve humanity and kindness against oppressive forces.
As Theresa prepares to journey to Firestone, the chapter hints at the strength found in alliances and the unexpected support of those around her. The mention of the Solan Camp and Louisa rekindles memories and opens a door to new possibilities, reinforcing Theresa’s unwavering resolve. This moment captures the emotional complexity of her path—a blend of determination, uncertainty, and the enduring hope that drives her forward, not just for herself, but for those she loves and the future she strives to protect.
The next chapter promises to deepen the tension as Theresa embarks on a perilous journey to Firestone, racing against time to secure the antidote that could save Aunt Tania’s life. The weight of the Starborn Order’s chilling ultimatum hangs heavily over her, fueling a mix of determination and desperation that will test her resilience and alliances. As she steps into the uncertain path ahead, the fragile hope kindled by Professor K’s unexpected support may be her only beacon in the encroaching darkness.
Emotions are poised to run high as old connections resurface, particularly with the mention of Louisa and the formidable Solan Camp. Their unexpected interest in Theresa and the recent events in Ansford could open doors or ignite new conflicts, challenging Theresa’s trust and forcing her to navigate complex loyalties. The looming question of whether she can truly rely on these newfound allies adds a layer of suspense, hinting at the difficult choices she must soon face. Readers will be left eager to discover how Theresa’s journey unfolds and what sacrifices she will have to make to protect those she loves.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.