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She catches her bottom lip in her teeth. The sharp scent of nervousness assails her nose. The whole of Veritas reeks of it. Not fear, though, but nerves and unease. How many will be standing with them at the end of the day? How many will sacrifice themselves to save this realm?
She tries to push the thoughts away, only to find they’re as sticky and toxic as the spider’s webs in the Fae realm. The truth is, they’re facing the end of the world.
There’s no way to sugarcoat something like that.
Caleb strides into the foyer, looking more together, surer of himself than he has been since he became a human again, the pendant resting against his chest. “Morning.”
Maddy rushes toward him and wraps her arms around him. “You’re looking chipper.”
“Amazing what a good night's sleep will do for a mortal body.” He leans closer to her ear. “Did you eat?” he whispers.
“I did when I got up. Cora got me three bags.”
“Good. I did, too. You ready for today?”
“No,” she admits quietly.
He squeezes her tightly against him. “Good. Me neither.”
This time, that makes her laugh quietly against his shoulder. Or maybe it’s easier to laugh when she’s in his arms. Either way, it lightens the weight on her shoulders. She turns to face Kenna, Cora, and the others. They all peer at the two of them expectantly. Many of the warriors are in other rooms, but the leaders are all here.
Caleb clears his throat. “Morning.”
Responses ripple through the group.
“It’s going to be a day of it.”
More answers of agreement.
“We’re probably going to be sorely outnumbered.”
Kenna shrugs. “We usually are, but it’s not been an issue.”
Caleb nods, no doubt acknowledging the courage in that statement, along with the reality it’s most certainly going to be an issue in this battle.
Cora peers through the windows on either side of the entrance. “Somebody’s arrived.”
Maddy rushes to Cora’s side, stopping beside her in a blink. “Can you tell who it is?”
Cora squints and moves a little to see through the wavy glass. “Huh.” She pulls away from the window. “Looks like Alec.” She leaves the entrance without opening the door.
Caleb mutters under his breath. “Insufferable jerk.”
“He’s probably coming to help us since he thinks we’ll be bad at it.” Maddy punches the unlock code into the keypad next to the door. The lock mechanism clicks, and she tugs open the door as Alec reaches it.
He gives her a look. “I thought Veritas remains open to all, at all times.”
For the briefest moment, Maddy considers closing the door on Alec’s smug face. It’s more than tempting. Instead, she says, “We’re now operating under the Orion protocol. What’s the secret word?”
Alec scowls. “Secret word?”
Maddy’s gaze narrows, and her fury flares. “I’ll give you a hint. It starts with a ‘P.’ You say it when you want something…”
Caleb catches Maddy’s elbow and uses it to pull open the door the rest of the way. “She’s kidding.” He takes a step closer to Maddy. “I don’t think Alec knows the word ‘please.’”
“I was going to teach him,” Maddy mutters, stepping back from the door. “Come in.”
Alec sniffs as he crosses over the threshold. “I don’t appreciate the humor. It’s very human.” He strides into Veritas with his retinue of impressive Faerie warriors in tow. “We’ve arrived to assist.”
