“Traitor,”I grumble at her.
Stark is staring at me, eyes narrowed, waiting for me to protest.
“You haven’t fought like this yet,” he says with quiet intensity, “Siphons are faster than humans, Cooper. They’re stronger, capable of making you see things that aren’t real. One mistake and—” He makes a sharp slashing motion with one hand across his throat.
“Iknow,” I grate. “I’ve been studying them for weeks, Stark.”
“And I’ve been fighting them for a fucking decade,” he growls. “Listento me, Cooper. You stay close to me, youfollow orders, and you don’t. Take. Risks.Do you understand?”
“Alright!” I hiss, taken aback by his intensity. “I understand!”
Before he can say more, a Kryptos scout melts out of the gathering darkness. Stark turns without surprise and says, “Report.”
“Movement in the east wing,” the scout says, gaze flicking to me. “They’ve shifted the guard rotation.”
Shit. That throws a wrench in our plans.
But Stark shows no hint of stress. I watch him silently absorb the information, his tactical mind working rapidly through the possibilities. He could have easily been a Strategos rather than a Daemos. In mere seconds, he settles on a solution, adjusting our strategy and redirecting resources with impressive efficiency.
Again, I’m struck by the difference in him. Command sits so naturally on those broad, muscular shoulders. There’s something almost regal in the way he carries it. He’s truly the Sovereign Alpha’s son in this moment. The soldiers and Bonded alike respond to his commands without hesitation—with absolute faith.
While everyone is making their final preparations, I check my own weapons for the dozenth time.
Sword secured. Check. Daggers dipped in poisonous herbs that slow Siphon healing. Check.
My hands tremble slightly as I work, though whether from fear or anticipation, I’m not sure. My blood is pumping, but my mind is calm. Focused.
Despite my irritation with Stark’s babying, I know I’m the weakest link on the team. Everyone else has copious battle experience. They’ve fought Siphons before. They’ve seen war.
I willnotfuck this up—the rest of the team is counting on me. If I make a mistake, their lives will be at risk, too, not just mine.
When the sun finally sinks below the horizon and the sky turns black and starless, Stark commands the teams to take position, coordinating with lethal precision using hand signals alone.
He nods to me just before we mount our wolves. “Remember, stay close to me. Egith will never forgive me if I get her new Alpha killed.”
Something in his tone makes me look at him sharply, but his expression tells me nothing.
Without another word, Stark leaps onto Cratos’s back. I follow suit as the other two teams peel off into the night, taking their positions.
Anassa’s anticipation builds as Stark signals for our team to move. I take a deep breath, forcing my hands to steady, then lean hard into our connection. The bond swells, enveloping me in Anassa’s heightened senses.
Suddenly I can see into the night far better than I could before. I can hear every rustle in the woods, every crackle of leaves underfoot. The breeze moving up from the valley below us carries the scent of moist earth, woodsmoke, and countless living things.
I’m going to survive this, I tell myself as we follow Stark and Cratos into the night.I’ve survived the fighting pits, the Ascent,the training—I’ve survived everything this brutal world has thrown at me. I’ll survive this too—and find Saela.
Whatever it takes.
Anassa’s fierce approval washes over me. We’ll survive thistogether.
The descent to the temple takes a handful of minutes, and then we’re approaching the southwest entry point, Stark in the lead and me just behind with half a dozen soldiers on foot bringing up the rear. I spot the crumbling section of the wall just as Stark turns to give me the signal.
Everyone is in position. The time is now.
I lift one hand, echoing Stark’s signal to the soldiers behind me.
At once, we burst into action. Cratos leaps through the breach, a massive black blur against the night. Anassa swiftly follows, the soldiers spilling into the temple courtyard behind us.
Nothing could have prepared me for what follows.
