When we descend the stairs dressed in practical, tactical layers, my neck covered—no need to flaunt the intimate double bite marks—the shift in atmosphere is palpable. Whatever celebration lingered from the ceremony is long gone. The air is tight. Everyone's eyes are sharp, expressions serious and focused.
Asher stops midway down the staircase, taking the elevation to command the room. He's dressed in a fitted shirt rolled at the sleeves and khaki tactical pants, dog tags glinting against his chest. For a second, the metal catches the light, revealing the faint shimmer beneath it. The nightstone. So that's where he keeps it.
"All right," he starts, voice calm. "We've seen what they're capable of, both melee and ranged. That means most of you stay inside. Armed. Cover us in case this turns ugly."
Astrid crosses her arms. "I don't plan to sit this one out."
Asher studies her, then gives a single nod. "You're with us. The outside team will be me, Kayden, Sage, and Astrid."
He turns back to the rest of the room. "Tomas, Winston—upstairs windows. Donna, Jace, Eira—downstairs entry points.If it starts, we'll need you to create pressure from both angles. Aim to disable, not kill."
Murmurs ofyes, sirandColonelfollow.
Maeve steps forward. "I'll go out with you. He won't target me, and someone needs to inform them about the barrier."
Kayden's expression tightens. "Or you could let him walk into it and fry. I'm not opposed to that."
Maeve gives him a look. "It's not a trap, vampire. It's a ward that's not meant to harm. Balance, remember?"
Donna mutters, "It seems a littleunbalancedwhen he can vaporize us with a look."
Kayden grunts. "He has a team for a reason. He's not a god."
Asher nods once, sharply. "Exactly. He's powerful, not invincible." Then, to Maeve, "You can come with us."
Tomas clears his throat. "Are we certain it's wise for both husbands to go outside? No offense, but it might be smarter for one of you to stay behind."
Kayden and Asher exchange a look. I answer for them, exhaling. "That would be wiser, yeah. But neither of them is going to do it. I know it.Youknow it. We all do."
Kayden smirks. "She gets it."
Asher adds, cool and measured, "We can't show hesitation or fear." He glances toward Maeve. "The ward will hold, correct? It will protect us from his powers?"
She nods. "It will."
"Then it's settled," Asher says. "Five of us outside. Everyone else, take long-range positions."
He motions to the weapons cache: shotguns, hunting rifles, crossbows, even a sniper rifle that had been reassembled. Tomas picks it up, and I realize that he's done this before. I see it in the way he checks the scope and load with the muscle memory of a military sniper.
The last blush of sun filters through the clouds, warm light giving way to dusky gray.
Then, the sound of engines. Tires against gravel.
"They're coming," Asher says, stepping forward. "Positions."
I take mine between my husbands at the threshold. Kayden to my left. Asher to my right. Astrid and Maeve just behind.
My pulse flutters, but I hold steady.
"If anything happens, get behind me," I tell them.
Kayden scoffs under his breath. Asher goes still.
"I mean it," I add in a sharp tone. "He won't try to hurt me. But if you fall… if either of you—"
Asher's hand brushes my back. "We're not falling. Not tonight."
We step out in a tight formation, feeling the weight of every eye on us, inside and out. From the windows, I glimpse silhouettes—crossbows, pistols, rifles—all trained outward. Our house has become a fortress.
