To Felicia, Maurice was the definition of a loose cannon—a rabid dog impossible to leash. Therefore, removing the twin venomous creatures was out of the question. Without that connection, Maurice would have no reason to restrain himself. He would kill her the moment it suited him. But with the venomous creatures binding their fates, he would be compelled to protect her, if only to save his own skin. Felicia knew she couldn't fully trust him; still, she had to offer a concession—treating his legs. It was her way of showing she wasn't trying to sever all ties.

Their eyes locked in a long, tense standoff. Finally, Maurice broke the silence, his tone laced with something she couldn't quite decipher. "Fine. I agree. Just don't regret it later." He didn't elaborate, and Felicia didn't press him. With that, an uneasy truce was reached.

Once certain Maurice wouldn't betray her again, Felicia began working. She extracted the lingering toxins that had crippled him. When Maurice stood this time, it was different. There was no faltering, no collapsing back into his wheelchair. His legs were healed.

Maurice moved experimentally, taking a few steady steps. Then, he turned to her with a satisfied smirk. "When do you plan on heading back to Khogend?"

"Now," Felicia replied without hesitation. The sooner, the better. Staying longer only increased the risk of Maurice changing his mind—or worse, pulling another stunt. Maurice nodded to one of his men, who immediately made a call. Within minutes, his private plane was ready. He also assigned four of his most trusted men to accompany Felicia.

"These four will stay with you. Their job is to protect you. Don't do anything stupid that'll get us both killed," he said, his tone sharp with mockery.

Felicia didn't rise to the bait. "No worries, Mr. Glovers. I value my life too much for that."

The truth was, this entire situation was a double-edged sword. Using the twin venomous creatures to control Maurice had worked, but it also made her a significant target. If word got out, anyone seeking to eliminate Maurice would realize they only needed to kill her. It would be easier, cleaner, and just as effective. She sighed internally, reminding herself to proceed cautiously. "Keep this between us," she warned.

Maurice wasn't stupid; he understood the risks. Still, he couldn't resist a final barb. "If you're so scared, why not just remove the venomous creatures?"

Felicia gave him a flat look. "Because the second I do, you'll probably have me killed. Don't even try to deny it." Her voice was calm, but her words were pointed.

Maurice chuckled, neither confirming nor denying it.

Without another word, Felicia boarded the plane. The cabin doors closed, and the plane ascended. As the plane sliced through the clouds, Felicia leaned back and let out a long, relieved breath. She was finally free.