"What happens when Konstantin realizes you've refused his ultimatum?"
"He escalates. Hits us again, harder. Tries to force compliance through attrition." Maximus's jaw tightens. "Or he does something unexpected. With three months of intelligence, he knows us well enough to improvise."
"That's not reassuring."
"It's not meant to be."
The last of the shutters close. The compound is sealed, a fortress against the sun. Around us, vampires are retreating to their quarters, surrendering to the biological imperative that makes us vulnerable during the day.
"Come on," Maximus says quietly. "I'll walk you to your room."
We move through corridors that are emptying quickly. Thehumans on staff: Elena, Dr. Dalton, and the security personnel who can function in daylight, will maintain operations while we sleep.
At my door, we stop. The hallway is empty now; everyone else already in their quarters.
"Get some rest," he says.
"You too."
Neither of us moves.
What happened in the war room hours ago hangs between us, unfinished, interrupted, still burning under my skin. More than a kiss. So much more. The memory of his hands on me, inside me. The way he watched me fall apart. The dark promises he whispered against my throat.
I want to reach for him. Want to pull him into my room and finish what we started. Want to give him what he gave me, want to learn every sound he makes when he's the one coming undone.
But we're both exhausted, both frayed from crisis, and whatever this is between us deserves better than desperation.
His eyes drop to my mouth. Just for a second. But I see it.
"After," I say quietly. "When this is over."
"After," he agrees.
His hand comes up, brushes my cheek once, a whisper of contact that sends warmth spreading through my chest. Then he steps back.
"Sleep well, Celeste."
"You too."
I watch him walk away until he turns the corner. Then I go inside, close the door, and let the dawn take me.
I wake to chaos.
The sun has barely set, I can feel it in the heaviness still clinging to my limbs, but someone is pounding on my door.
"Celeste!" Nadia's voice. "Security center. Now."
I'm dressed and moving in under a minute, vampire speed carrying me through corridors that are already filling with activity. Something happened while we slept. Something bad.
The security center is crowded when I arrive. Maximus stands at the central display, Marcellus at his shoulder. Julian is running through data on a tablet, his expression grim.
And in the corner, restrained by two security vampires, is Cyrus Knight.
He looks terrible. Clothes torn, face bruised, the defeated posture of a man who's lost everything. When his eyes meet mine, I see no defiance. Just exhaustion and something that might be relief.
They found him.
"Report," Maximus says. His voice is ice.
