Jewel stormed into Khalil's chambers, her eyes blazing with anger. "Khalil, how could you?" she demanded. "Imprisoning Nia from the moment she arrived? It's unacceptable."
Khalil looked up from his desk, his expression unyielding. "Jewel, stay out of this," he warned.
But Jewel was not deterred. "You're treating her like a criminal, Khalil. She's scared and alone. And you're not even giving her a chance to explain herself."
Khalil sighed and rubbed his temples. "Jewel, I have my reasons. And I need you to keep a secret for me."
Jewel's eyes narrowed. "What secret?"
Khalil hesitated before speaking. "Nia is my mate, Jewel. But I need you to keep it quiet until I figure out what's going on with her. She's running from something, and I need to know what it is before I can trust her."
Je
