Delilah watches me. “You want me to try and reach him?”
“No,” I say immediately. Then softer, “No. If he’s in it, he’s in it.”
That’s the only answer that ever works with Archer. And I hate how much I’ve learned that already. Another update comes in, and this one feels different. Heavier.
“Northwest forest disturbance escalating. Multiple signatures detected beyond initial engagement zone.”
Brooke swears under her breath. “That’s not just Felix then.”
My mind locks onto that instantly.
“Exactly,” I say.
This isn’t a duel. It never was. It’s containment. And Archer is walking straight into the center of it. I turn toward themap on the counter, tracing lines I’ve drawn earlier. Everything suddenly feels too spread out. Too deliberate.
“They’re pulling pressure off the town,” I say slowly.
Delilah frowns. “That’s good, right?”
“No,” I say.
Because I see it now. They’re not retreating. They’re relocating.
Brooke steps closer to the map. “To where?”
I don’t answer immediately. Because I don’t like the answer. The forest. The northwest ridge. Archer. My hand tightens on the counter edge.
“They’re isolating him,” I say quietly.
Delilah goes still. “Why?”
I look up at her. Because I already know.
“Because he’s the only one who can stop Damon,” I say.
Silence falls. Heavy. Immediate understanding spreading through all three of us at once.
Brooke mutters, “So this was never about the town.”
“No,” I say.
My voice feels steadier than I am.
“It was about pulling him away from it.”
Another radio burst interrupts everything.
“Archer confirmed engaging Damon at northwest ridge perimeter.”
That hits hard.
Delilah looks at me sharply. “That’s it then.”
I shake my head immediately.
“No,” I say. “That’s not the end point.”
Brooke frowns. “What do you mean?”
