My heartbeat is everywhere — in my throat, my ears, my shaking hands.
But beneath the terror… something else rises.
Hope.
Because over the ringing alarms, over the pounding boots, over my own breathing…
I hear him.
Closer now.
Commanding.
Unstoppable.
“Level Three! Move!”
The guards tense.
One whispers, “He shouldn’t be able to break through that fast.”
You don’t know him, I want to say.
You have no idea.
The guard drags me backward, toward a door markedCHAMBER NINE — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.
My pulse spikes.
No. No, please—
He slams his palm onto the keypad.
The door begins to open.
A crack of gunfire erupts behind us.
The guard jerks — and drops.
The second guard swings toward the sound.
Too late.
Metal hits the floor. A body falls.
And through the settling gun smoke, through the strobing emergency lights, through the cold mountain air…
Ronan steps into the corridor.
His chest rising hard.
Eyes burning like wildfire.
Rifle raised.
Focused entirely—entirely—on me.
My lips part on a shaking breath.
