“Be careful,” I say as Blaze and Aksel carry the mage away.
The door closes with a finality that echoes deep within my bones.
“Let’s go upstairs,” Felix suggests, his arm wrapping protectively around my shoulders. “You need to rest, Anna. You’ve been hurt.”
“Rest won’t change what we’re up against,” I reply, but allow him to guide me away from the scene.
“Maybe not,” Griffyn agrees, falling into step beside us. “But it’ll give us a moment to breathe. This was just a setback.”
We ascend the stairs leaving behind the shadows of the basement.
“So, we all agree that this must be bigger than we realized if someone is willing to die to keep the secrets of it?” I ask.
Rion’s nod is grim. “It’s sad but there’s nothing we could have done. All we can do now is destroy them so no one else is put in this position in the future.”
And I agree. This is just another reason they have to be stopped.
Nineteen
Anna
The air is thick with anticipation as we prepare for our recon mission tonight. Tonight is the night of the meeting that was on Hammer’s phone. The room buzzes with activity, each of us focusing on our respective tasks while the weight of what’s to come presses down on my shoulders.
“Anna, are you ready?” Blaze’s deep voice cuts through my thoughts, his eyes full of concern and determination.
The fear on his face softens me.
“Of course,” I reply, trying not to let my anxiety show.
His strong hand briefly squeezes my shoulder, offering comfort and reassurance before returning to his own preparations.
I watch him for a moment, admiring his focus and dedication. He has always been quiet and grumpy, but underneath that facade lies a fierce protective instinct for those he cares about.
Felix is watching our interaction with raised brows, probably feeling my conflicted feelings through the bond.
Blaze messed up but he is trying to fix it. I hate seeing him this quiet and withdrawn.
The room falls silent, and I snap out of my reverie, realizing that Blaze’s phone has gone off. All eyes turn to him, the tension in the room spiking.
Blaze hesitates for a moment, then reaches into his pocket and retrieves his phone.
“Who is it?” Aksel asks, his voice tight with unease.
“Shit!” Blaze curses, his voice cracking the tense silence in the room. “I’ve been called in for a fight tonight.”
My heart pounds against my ribcage, and it feels like the air has been sucked out of the room. We all exchange worried glances.
“Tonight?” Aksel’s voice is incredulous. “Of all nights?”
“Seems so,” Blaze replies, his eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“The timing can’t be a coincidence,” I think aloud, my stomach twisting into knots. Fear threatens to swallow me whole, but I refuse to let it take control. I shove it aside.
“Could they know about our mission?” Felix asks.
“Maybe,” Aksel says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “We need to adjust our plans accordingly.”
We decide to split up which means only one person will be with Blaze.
