I shift again, then flinch. There’s a dark stain on my left side that is spreading slowly.
What the hell?
Elena pulls away from Caleb with uncharacteristic roughness. Her eyes are red-rimmed, voice thick.
“Mara, you can’t just… We’ve been mourning you! I’ve been—” She cuts herself off, swallowing.
My heart breaks a little. I hate doing this to her.
“I know, babe. And I’m sorry.” I let the tenderness show. My hand reaches out toward the screen like I could touch her through it. “But trust me… what I’m doing matters.”
“Whatareyou doing?” Luke’s voice. Finally speaking up.
I force the grin back. “Lukester! I missed you, you boring bastard. Can’t say yet. OpSec and all that.”
The room dissolves into argument, everyone talking over each other, demanding, pleading, questioning.
I cough again. Harder this time. Have to double over briefly before straightening with effort that costs me. The hike down here must have taken more out of me than I realized.
“I’m alive. I’m safe enough. And I’ll check in when I can.” I wipe my lips.
Shit. More blood.
Viktor leans forward, silver hair falling over his forehead. I’ve never seen him this rattled. “We have a strike team deploying to the Carpathians. They can retrieve you—”
“I’m not in the mountains anymore.” My voice sharpens. The last thing I want is for them to send in the cavalry before I’ve figured out how to find K. If the Syndicate gets spooked, they might kill him.
Behind me, something scrapes—Andrei shifting position, maybe. Or just wind against stone. I glance over my shoulder.
“Then where?” A new voice. Calm. Controlled. Must be Riven.
“Somewhere I need to be.” I meet the camera without flinching. “That’s all you’re getting.”
I let my tone shift. Genuine now. Almost gentle.
“Look, I know this is hard. But I’m asking you to trust me.” My eyes find Ember through the screen. Hold her gaze. “You trusted your instincts in those mountains. Trust mine now.”
“Mara—” Ember starts, and I hear the conflict in her voice. Relief and hurt tangled together.
“I’m okay, Ember. Promise.” My voice goes soft. “And I’ll see you again.” Pause. “When this is done.”
“Done?” Caleb demands. “What do you mean, done? Mara, as your employer, I’m ordering you—”
I don’t respond to him. Instead, my eyes sweep across all of them one last time. Linger on Elena, whose shoulders shake with silent sobs.
“Take care of each other. Don’t wait up.” I try for another grin. It’s strained, my mouth twitching with effort. My chest is really aching now.
“Mara, at least give us—” Viktor starts.
I end the call.
The screen goes dark.
My hands are shaking. I stare at the phone, at my reflection in the black glass.
Pale. Bruised. Blood on my lip.
What are you doing?
