“They’d never do that,” I interrupt him. “That’s not how they operate.
He looks at me as if he doesn’t believe me, but goes on without arguing the point. “Even if they don’t, you’d be walking in blind. The traitor could be anyone. Someone you trust.”
He’s right, and I hate it. “Then what do you suggest?”
He’s quiet for a long moment. Then: “There’s something else we need to consider. The hybrids at Vex’s facility.”
I blink at the subject change. “What about them?”
“They’re still there. Still trapped. Still being experimented on.” He turns to face me fully. “Everything that’s happened—my arrest, your helping me escape—it’s disrupted Aurora’s timeline. They were supposed to raid the facility. Rescue those people. Now they won’t. They’ll be too busy hunting us.”
“So the raid is postponed. They’ll get to it eventually—”
“Some of those hybrids don’t have ‘eventually.’” His voice is strained. “Kaylin Foster. The twenty-two-year-old wolf. Her file said she might not survive another procedure. That was over a week ago.”
“She might already be dead,” I finish quietly, knowing it sounds callous.
“Or dying. Along with others whose conditions were critical.”
I see where this is going. “You want to raid the facility. Now. Just the two of us.”
“Yes.”
“That’s suicide.” The words come out flat.
“Probably.”
“Jericho—”
“I spent centuries following Syndicate orders. Prioritizing missions over casualties. Making decisions that sacrificed people for objectives.” He meets my eyes. “I’m done with that. I’m done walking away from people who need help because the odds aren’t favorable.”
The conviction in his voice is unshakeable.
“You’ll die,” I say. “You’ll go in there, and they’ll kill you.”
“Maybe.”
“And you’re going regardless.”
“Yes. After I get them out—if I survive—I’ll go to Viktor. Tell him about the traitor. Warn Aurora.” He pauses. “But you’re not coming with me. You’re going to take the truck and—”
“No.”
“Nadia—”
“No. If you’re doing this, I’m going with you.”
“I won’t let you—”
“You don’t get to make that choice.” I step closer. “I left Aurora for you. Gave up everything. I’m not leaving you now.”
We stare at each other. Neither backing down.
“The security will be significant,” he says finally. Trying logic. “Vex knows the facility’s value. This research is sanctioned by Ivory League leadership. There will be guards. Patrols. Biometric security. Defenses we can’t anticipate. Two of us against all of that—the odds are terrible.”
“I know.”
“We’ll probably both die.”
