“If I were man enough…” I grunt, stepping closer and slamming chests.
“If you were human enough,” Ash counters, eyes narrowing.
“Or Sentinel enough,” I say, stepping back and shoving my hands in my pockets. This younger generation doesn’t know them like I do—through my grandma’s recollections, stories of my father and his bride. “My father died for my mother without a second thought.”
“When the resonance hit, though he thought it impossible, he couldn’t ignore it,” Ash says, face hardening. “Can you, Guthrie?”
That’s the question I still can’t answer.
“Don’t have time to waste. If they have her, God only knows what they’ll do. I have to get her back. You helping or hindering?”
Ash takes a deep breath. “You can’t just go in there, guns blazing.”
“There is a way.”
“Not one thatrevealsus,” the blond cowboy counters.
“Then help me come up with something better. Either way, I’m not leaving without her.”
“Let’s give them what they want,” Ash says.
I arch an eyebrow.
“We’ll give themyou.”
“We’ll talk in the saddle,” I say, heading for Tempest.
As we ride side by side, Ash hollers, “They won’t want to kill us. They’ll want to contain us.”
My jaw tightens. “Then, that’ll be their mistake.”
Chapter
Nineteen
KAEL
The road narrows as we crest the ridge, the forest closing in tight on either side. Ash reins in beside me, his gaze fixed ahead.
“There,” he says.
I follow his line of sight.
A low structure sits tucked into the trees—steel and concrete disguised beneath weathered siding. No lights. No signs.
Too quiet.
My skin prickles. The hum spikes… hard.
It drags toward the building like a hook in my chest.
“She’s in there,” I say.
Ash exhales slowly. “Yeah. I feel it.”
I swing down from Tempest before he can speak.
“Wait,” Ash snaps, grabbing my arm.
