And the world narrowed.
“Elena.”
The name left me without permission.
Without thought.
The room shifted.
Her.
Here.
Now.
In this place.
“What the hell—”
“Stand down!”
My voice cracked through the space like a whip.
The command landed instantly.
Renzo froze.
The pressure on her arm eased—just enough.
The General hesitated, then lowered the barrel by an inch, not enough to signal trust, but enough to signal confusion.
Both of them stepped back.
Reluctant.
Their eyes flicking between me and her.
Trying to understand.
Failing.
The tension didn’t leave the room.
It just shifted.
Like a predator deciding whether to attack or wait.
Elena stayed on her knees in the alcove’s dim light.
Breathing hard.
But still.
Fear etched itself into every part of her.
Wide eyes. Tight jaw. Shallow breaths.
My gaze dropped.
