“The final briefing is tonight,” Keira announces. “All forces will be present. We move at dawn tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. The word sends ice through my veins that has nothing to do with temperature. Tomorrow we storm the facility. Tomorrow we face Crane and his horrors again.
Tomorrow, people might die.
The briefing is held in the great hall, packed with warriors from multiple clans. I watch Elena’s image in the communication crystal as she presents her medical protocols, the treatments she’s developed for toxin exposure and forced transformation. Kael outlines the aerial assault plan—Storm Eagles will provide air superiority while ground forces infiltrate.
My role is clear: I’m going in with the first wave, Magnus beside me, to locate and stabilize the prisoners while the warriors secure the facility. It’s dangerous, potentially suicidal, but I’m the only healer who’s actually seen Crane’s work firsthand and has experience with the integrated techniques needed to help the victims.
After the briefing, I slip away to the stronghold’s observation platform. I need air, space to think, a moment to process everything that’s about to happen.
The sun is setting, painting the ice peaks in shades of amber and rose. Beautiful and deadly, like everything in these mountains. I wrap my arms around myself, not quite cold but needing the comfort of the pressure.
“You’re worried.”
I don’t turn at Magnus’s voice. Just nod, watching the light fade. “Tomorrow could go very wrong. Crane knows we escaped. He’ll have prepared defenses, traps, maybe even relocated some of the prisoners.”
“We’ll adapt.” Magnus moves to stand beside me, close enough that I feel his warmth. “That’s what we do best.”
“People could die tomorrow. Warriors putting themselves at risk because of evidence I gathered, plans I helped make.”
“People could die if we do nothing.” His hand finds mine, lacing our fingers together. “Those prisoners are suffering every moment we delay. You know that better than anyone.”
I do know. I’ve seen the medical records, read the pain logs, understand exactly what’s being done to those people. But knowing doesn’t make sending warriors into danger easier.
“I had a vision this morning,” I admit quietly. “During meditation. A new one.”
Magnus tenses. “Of me dying?”
“No. Those have stopped, like I told you. This was different.” I close my eyes, remembering the flashes. “I saw the assault. Saw us fighting through the facility. But there was a branch point, a decision moment. One path leads to success but at terrible cost. The other leads to... something I couldn’t quite see. Like the future’s uncertain, still being written.”
“What’s the decision?”
“I don’t know yet. The vision wasn’t clear enough.” I open my eyes, looking at him. “But it’s coming. Tomorrow, we’ll face a choice that determines everything.”
He’s quiet for a moment, processing. Then: “Do you trust your gift? Not the visions themselves, but your ability to interpret them in the moment?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. When the choice comes, you’ll know it. You’ll know which path to take.” His hand tightens on mine. “And I’ll trust you to guide us true.”
The simple faith in his voice breaks something open in my chest. This man, who barely knew me a week ago, who has everyreason to doubt the reliability of precognitive visions, trusts me completely. Trusts my judgment, my abilities, my choices.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I whisper.
“You won’t.” He turns me to face him, both hands framing my face now. “We’ve changed the future before. We’ll do it again if we have to. Together.”
“Together,” I echo, but the word comes out shaky this time.
Magnus studies my face, reading something in my expression. “You’re still afraid.”
“Of course I’m afraid. We’re walking into a nightmare tomorrow. A facility full of horrors, a madman who wants to capture me, warriors who might die?—”
“That’s not what you’re afraid of.” His thumbs brush away tears I didn’t realize were falling. “You’re afraid of this. Of us. Of what happens if we both survive tomorrow.”
He’s right. The admission lodges in my throat, but he deserves honesty. “I’m terrified. Because if we survive, if we win, then there’s no more obstacles. No more missions or dangers to hide behind. Just us and the bond we’ve been building and the future we could have.”
“And that scares you?”
