Zuko glanced at me. “I don’t want you to die for me either, but would you listen to me if it came down to it?”
I huffed, scowling at him. “No.”
Jarvins ignored us. “Slater Havoc, your surveillance control was flawless. Timed self-destruction was executed cleanly. You maintained comms communication, but you could flirt less with your mate.”
Slater beamed. “Thank you.”
Jarvins's gaze flicked to Katie. “Katie Mornwick, blueprint management and updates were accurate. You maintained operational momentum.”
Katie’s shoulders squared, pride flickering behind her glasses.
“And, Eleanor Fawnmere,” Jarvins spoke. “Diplomatic containment was stable. You maintained plausible deniability.”
Eleanor inclined her head.
Jarvins's gaze swept all of us one last time. “Thisis the kind of mission that kills agents. It kills captives even when you do everything right.”
A chill slid down my spine.
Jarvins's voice didn’t change. “But today, you extractedeverycaptive. You prevented data preservation. You obtained intel on additional facilities. You executed controlled sabotage, and you kept all agents alive.” He pulled the twig from his mouth and pointed it at us. “Which means each of you passed.”
The tension coiling in my muscles loosened.
Dimitri’s hand found mine again, fingers lacing through mine in a quiet, possessive claim.
Zuko’s hand rested on my lower back.
Slater’s voice purred through comms, even though we were standing only a few feet apart. “Venom baby, I’m proud of you.”
Zuko whispered in my ear, “My pretty little poison did good.”
Koa’s voice was soft through the comms. “You did perfect, little vixen.”
“And you lived up to your nickname, lethal darling.” Dimitri squeezed my hand.
My gaze scanned the simulator’s chamber, landing on all of my mates, my temporary squad members, and my professor.
We hadn’t lost anyone this mission, and that felt great.
“Yeah,” I murmured, letting a slow smile curve my lips. “Wedid excellent.”
dimitri
. . .
Glimmerspire Amphitheaterin Cursinia glittered like a floating jewel above the Moonfall River. Its crystal architecture refracted the sunset into violet and gold shards across the marble courtyard. Siren-carved pillars were enchanted with faint melodic notes as wind brushed them. Soft glowing vines curled around the entrance archway, glowing faint blue like starlight trapped in petals.
This location was truly breathtaking, and it would be my first and last time playing here.
It was finally time for my final recital, mylastpublic appearance as a pianist.
The perfectly crafted life I’d been raised to uphold was now something I was officially choosing to leave behind.
Yet, all I could think about was whether Rune would like the piece I’d created for her. I knew she wasn’t into music, but I hoped she could feel the emotion I’d poured into the melody for her.
A soft tremor moved through my chest just imagining what the bond would send me while I played and she listened.
It would also be the first time she’d heard me play.
