As they disappear around the corner, the reality of it all hits me like a freight train.
This isn’t just a compound filled with soldiers and weapons. This is a community. A family. And because of me—because of my name, my money, my family’s history—they’re all in danger.
These people aren’t just fighters. They’re parents, children, friends. They’re hiding down here because it’s the only place they can feel safe. And now, because of everything I’ve brought with me, that safety is threatened.
I feel the tears welling up again, and I quickly swipe them away, trying to pull myself together. Hunter is watching me closely, his expression soft with understanding, but he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. The weight of what I’m feeling is clear enough.
“I didn’t realize…” I begin, my voice trailing off as I struggle to find the right words. “I didn’t know there were families here. Kids.”
Hunter nods, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and resolve. “It’s a whole world down here. They’ve built something…something that’s worth protecting.”
I swallow hard; the tears threatening to spill over again. “And because of me, they’re not safe.”
Hunter reaches out, gently gripping my arm, his touch grounding me. “It’s not your fault,” he says firmly. “You didn’t ask for any of this. But now that you’re here…you can make a difference. You can help protect them.”
His words are meant to comfort, but they only add to the weight pressing down on my chest. The responsibility feels overwhelming, suffocating, and I’m not sure I’m strong enough to bear it.
But then I remember the little girl’s smile, the awe in her eyes as she looked at me, as if I were something magical. I remember the boy’s excitement at the idea of meeting a knight, the innocence in his questions. They don’t see me as a threat, as someone who could bring danger to their door. They see me as someone who can protect them, someone who can make things better.
And maybe…maybe I can be that person. Maybe I can live up to the expectations they have of me. Maybe I can be more than just a name, more than just a title.
I take a deep breath, straightening my shoulders as I look up at Hunter.
“We need to find Oliver,” I say, my voice steadier now, more determined. “We need to find the guys.”
I’m done waiting around. Today, I need answers. I need to put an end to this.
I storm through the compound, my footsteps echoing off the cold, metal walls. Anger and fear are boiling inside me, threatening to spill over, but I keep them in check. There’s no time to fall apart. Not now. Not when I’m so close.
I burst into the tech room, and the sudden silence is almost deafening. The hum of computers and the low murmur of voices stop dead as everyone turns to look at me, but I don’t care. My eyes lock onto Oliver, the nerd boy, the Chief Technologist of Le Milieu, and my cousin. He’s hunched over a table with a devastated look on his face, and my heart skips a beat.
No.
No.
“Did you get anything from the trackers?” I ask, my voice edged with desperation.
Oliver looks up, and the sadness in his eyes makes my gut sink. He gestures weakly to a tiny metallic pile on the table in front of him. The pieces are small, almost insignificant, but the sight of them sends a wave of dread crashing over me.
“Three are dead,” he murmurs, adjusting his glasses with shaking hands. It’s then that I notice the stack of energy drinks. He must have been up all night. Fuck. “I’m not hopeful I’ll get anything from the last two, but I’ve learned from the others. I’m still working—”
“I’m going,” I snap, the words slipping out before I can think.
My heart is hammering in my chest, and I shove away from him, from Hunter, from the eyes of the tech team surrounding us.
“I’m going to the house. If anyone can save them, it’s Stone. But he’s gone, he’s missing, and I—” My voice falters, and I take a deep, shaky breath. “He can still save us. His hub, the computers, they’re all we have.”
“Ella,” Oliver calls, but I shake my head and turn around, giving them my back, so they don’t notice my eyes blurring.
I grab the door handle, but my sweaty palm slips on the cold metal. “I have to go. I’ll track them, and then we’ll go get them. I’m done waiting.”
I shove the door open and charge down the hallway, my feet pounding against the metal flooring. I don’t stop, not even when I hear the clatter of heavy footsteps behind me. I know who it is without even looking—Hunter.
Of course, he would chase me.
Despite everything, a small smile tugs at my lips. Hunter will always chase me, and while I don’t mean to make him, it’s comforting to know he’s done avoiding me like he used to. That he’s finally all in.
“Isabella Hudson,” he barks, his voice sharper than I’ve ever heard it.
