Gray forced himself to breathe."We split up.Each bonded pair takes a city.We position ourselves before dawn.When Protogenus makes their move, we're already in place.We stop the attacks, secure the weapons, and take down whoever's running each operation."
"And if they're counting on us splitting up?"Rick asked."What if dividing our forces is exactly what they want?"
"Then they're going to learn what happens when you corner a Pollux variant who's done playing nice."Gray didn't try to hide the edge of violence in his voice.Let them hear it.Let them understand what was coming.
Several people shifted uncomfortably.They'd never heard him sound like this.
Hannah squeezed his hand.Message received.
Gray pulled up the tactical display and started assigning teams.
"Chicago: Peter and Brynn.Your strength and combat skills make you the best choice for urban engagement."Peter nodded, already calculating angles of attack in his head.
"Los Angeles: Nick and Sarah.You own the sky.Use it."The Storms exchanged a look that needed no words.
"Seattle: Xavier and Ari.Stealth operations.Get in, find the weapons, get out without being seen."Xavier flickered visible long enough to nod before fading again.
"Miami: Pisc, Ichth, and the Mercury team.Coastal defense and aquatic extraction if any operation goes sideways near water."
"Denver: Chris and Jem.You can level a building if you have to.Make sure you don't have to."The earth manipulators grinned at each other.
"New Athens City: Hannah and me.Command and main threat response."
"New Athens is the biggest city," Yaz observed, ice still crystallizing absently around her fingers."And the most politically important.That's where Protogenus leadership will be."
"Which is why Gray and Hannah need to be there," Rick added."If they're going to unleash properly, let it be against the actual enemy leaders."
"We'll have support," Gray continued."West, Yaz, Dean, Keeley, Fallyn, Zane, you're all on New Athens backup.Rick and Evie coordinate from here.Vera and Erik provide tactical predictions and real-time updates to all teams."
"And if we're wrong?"Dean asked, vibrating slightly with nervous energy."If this is a diversion and the real attack is somewhere else?"
"Then we adapt."Hannah spoke up, and everyone turned to look at her.The newcomer.The former banker who'd just published an article attacking Protogenus."We've been reactive this whole war.Always responding to their moves.Tomorrow, we take the initiative.We meet them head-on.And we show them what happens when you threaten our world."
"Our world," Keeley echoed.
After everyone dispersed, Gray and Hannah stood alone in a smaller briefing room, studying the maps of New Athens City spread across the display table.
Their assignment.The biggest target.The most likely place for Protogenus leadership to show themselves.
Hannah traced a finger along the map, marking potential engagement zones."You lost control in the war room.When everyone was arguing."
"The lightning.I know."Gray stared at the map without seeing it."I can't hold it back anymore."
"Maybe you're not supposed to."She moved closer to him, close enough that the electricity between them intensified, their powers reaching for each other."Gray, I spent ten years hiding.Pretending.Suppressing who I really was.Being terrified of what people would think if they knew what I was.And you know what?It cost me everything anyway.The life I built was a lie, and it crumbled the second someone looked close enough."
“This is different.”
“Is it?”Hannah stepped into his space, turning fully toward him.The air between them snapped like a live wire, small arcs of blue-white electricity leaping from her skin to his.“You’re hiding just as much as I ever did.You’ve spent a decade convincing everyone that you’re the ‘civilized’ Pollux.The reasonable one.The safe one.”Her voice was devastatingly honest.“But that’s not who you are.That’s just the mask you put on so the world won’t tremble when you walk into a room.”
Gray’s jaw tightened.His eyes flickered shut, as if the truth stung worse than a blow.“If I let go of that mask...”His throat worked.“I don’t know what I become.”
“Then let’s find out.”
The words landed between them like a challenge, a spark dropped into dry tinder.Their powers reached for each other instinctively.The unspoken bond was undeniable and hungry.A current ran between their bodies, building pressure, heat, promise.
Hannah closed the last inches between them.Barely a breath separated them now.“Stop thinking.”
“I can’t do that.”
