CHAPTER 35 The Cliffhanger “Adrian!” Flora’s scream rent the air as Adrian crumpled to the ground. Time slowed. The world narrowed. Nothing existed except the red spreading beneath him. “No, no, no–Adrian!” She was already on her knees beside him, hands pressing against the wound before she even realized she’d moved. His blood was hot, … Read more
CHAPTER 34 The Last Decision The shot rent the night. Adrian moved before he thought. Instinct. Training. Whatever it was, it sent him diving toward Flora, pulling her down as a bullet whizzed past where she had been standing. She gasped as they hit the ground. “What the hell- “Stay down,” Adrian growled. His heart … Read more
CHAPTER 33 Alice Returns “You thought you were free of me, didn’t you?” Adrian froze onto the voice, his body reacting before his mind kicked in. Beside him, Flora tensed up, her fingers curling into fists. The air charged with something sharp and electric. Out from the shadows stepped Alice herself, that smirk still the … Read more
CHAPTER 32 Sacrifices “You’re hesitating.” +15 Bonus Flora’s voice cut like a blade through the silence. Adrian stood at the edge of the clearing, his fists clenched, his jaw tight. It was thick with tension; the weight of his decision pressed down on him like a storm, threatening to break loose. “I’m not,” he finally … Read more
CHAPTER 31 The Price of Loyalty “You shouldn’t be up.” Flora barely glanced up as Adrian stepped inside the tent, his voice low but laced with frustration. He stood at the entrance, arms crossed, silhouetted against the dim lantern light. “I’m fine,” she said, though the stiffness in her movements told a different story. Adrian … Read more
CHAPTER 30 The Final Test +15 Bonus The air was hazy with smoke and blood. Flora cleaned her blade against her sleeve, breathing hard and fast. Bodies littered the ground around her–some still twitching, others unnervingly still. The battle had been a mess from the very beginning. Now, they were down to the last stretch, … Read more
CHAPTER 29 A Perilous Alliance “You sure about this?” Flora shot Adrian a glare. “It’s a little late to be asking that, don’t you think?” He exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his knife. “Doesn’t mean I can’t still question the wisdom of walking straight into an ambush.” Besides them, their so–called … Read more
CHAPTER 28 The Choice “You’re thinking too loud.” Flora barely looked up from the map. Adrian stood at the entrance of the tent, arms crossed, his sharp gaze scanning her face. He wasn’t wrong. Her thoughts had been screaming at her all night. “I didn’t know thinking had a volume,” she muttered, tracing her finger … Read more
CHAPTER 27 Crossroads The fire was low in its pit, just dying embers which were throwing flickering shadows around camp. The tension of it permeated the atmosphere–it was in everyone’s hair. Flora sat cross–armed on a log, staring across at the man opposite her. Adrian loitered near the edge of camp, his shoulders tense, hands … Read more
CHAPTER 26 The Betrayal “You feel that?” Rhea’s voice was a whisper, barely carried over the quiet hum of the forest. Flora tightened her grip on her rifle, Yeah, she felt it. That gnawing sensation in her gut, the one that always meant something was about to go wrong. The mission was too quiet. Too … Read more