Two.
Three.
The man behind Wren raises his weapon.
Russ’s rifle shifts instantly.
“Bad idea.”
The man hesitates.
Mara steps between us slightly.
Her voice sharp now.
“Everyone stop.”
The wind moves through the trees again.
Branches swaying above us.
The standoff tightening.
Mara looks at me.
“You think you can force your way through this.”
“Yes.”
“You can’t.”
“We’ll see.”
Her gaze softens for a brief moment.
Almost regretful.
“You’re exactly the man the Architect predicted.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
“No.”
She exhales slowly.
“It’s a warning.”
I take another step forward.
Her pistol rises again.
But something has changed.
She isn’t pointing it at Wren anymore.
She’s pointing it at me.
And that tells me everything I need to know.
