CHAPTER 25
Shifting Allegiances
“You’re really going through with this, aren’t you?”
Rhea’s voice was flat, but Flora knew her well enough to catch the turnabout of concern.
She did not look up from strapping the cutter to her ham.” I don’t have important of a choice.”
Rhea folded her arms, leaning against the essence frame of Flora’s bunk “Bull. There’s always a choice.”
Flora exhaled hard, securing the last swatch before she stood. She met Rhea’s aspect, unblinking.” Not this time.”
The barracks were silent except for the rare shuffle of thrills outside the roof. utmost of the unit had formerly geared up, staying for orders. The charge brief had come in clear- neutrality the target, recoup the stolen data, get out. Simple on paper. But Flora knew better than to believe in” simple.“.
And also, there was Adrian.
Rhea’s eyes did not waver.” This is not just about the charge, is it?”
Flora turned down, fussing with her vest.” Does it count?”
“You tell me.”
There was a stretch of silence between them. Flora’s fingers interlaced in the fabric. She should’ve known Rhea wouldn’t drop it.
“Adrian’s on this mission,” Rhea said eventually.” You ready for that?”
Flora forced a breath through her nose.” I do not have a choice,” she repeated, but this time it was weaker, an attempt at tone-
conviction.
Rhea strangled.” Sure, you do. But you are choosing to walk right into the fire. Just do not get burned.”
Just also, before Flora could shoot back any sort of response, a voice cut through the barracks.
Five minutes! Move out!
Flora seized her rifle and followed Rhea outdoors into the dark sky, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and sword. The soldiers were loading up in the clearing ahead, ready to move out. Her stomach twisted as she spotted Adrian near the front, talking to their conunander.
He had not seen her yet.
Good.
The transport lift was silent
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Flora sat near the back, arms crossed, gaze fixed on the shifting treetops outside the open door. She could feel Adrian’s presence across the space, but she refused to look
Not that he was looking at her moreover.
Pressure crepitated in the confined space like a storm staying to break.
Rhea nudged her.” You should talk to him.”
Flora gripped her jaw.” And say what?”
“Id
‘I don no. perhaps that you do not detest his guts?
Flora gave a dry, earnest laugh.” Who says I don’t?”
Rhea shot her a knowing look, but did not push it.
The airman’s voice came on comms,” Approaching drop zone. Thirty seconds.”
The air moved. Soldiers uncurled, munitions checked, jitters steeled.
Flora eventually looked around the transport.
Adrian was gaping at her.
Her breath caught, and she made herself hold his regard.
also, just as suddenly the doors opened and the moment was gone.
The forest was dead quiet.
Flora moved in formation; her feet silent against the damp earth. Save for the veritably rare howl of wind through the branches, there was nothing. They were well within hostile home by now.
“Clear left,” Rhea rumoured.
‘Clear right,” Adrian’s voice came over the comms.
Flora exhaled through her nose. Indeed now, his voice managed to crawl under her skin.
Target’s bunker is a quarter afar ahead,” their squad leader muttered.” Move presto. Move quiet.”
They pressed forward
Flora’s heart pounded. She could feel the pressure winding tighter. Something did not feel right.
Adrian must’ve felt it too, because his voice came downward through the comms.
Stay sharp.”
also, all hell broke loose.
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Gunfire erupted.
Flora hit the ground, rolling before cover as pellets tattered through the leafage.
Ambush!”
No kidding.
“someone cried.
Adrian was formerly moving, firing back, his body a blur of murderous precision. Flora pushed up to a knee, returning fire.
They had walked right into a trap.
Rhea was beside her, breathing hard. “This was planned.”
Flora gritted her teeth. “No kidding.”
A voice crepitated over the radio. “We’ve got a leak. Someone sloped them off.”
Flora’s stomach sank
Betrayal.
Adrian’s voice cut through the chaos. “We need to move now!!
She did not vacillate.
She p
pushed forward, bullets whizzing past, heat scorching her skin. Adrian was formerly ahead, covering their retreat.
Go, go, go!”
The platoon climbed for better cover, bodies moving like murk through the trees. Flora fired over her shoulder, dropping an enemy before ducking behind a departed log
Adrian slid in beside her. “You alright?”
She shot him a light. “I’m fine.”
His eyes searched hers, but there was no time for whatever studies dallied between them. further gunfire.
“Who the hell vended us out?” Rhea growled, reloading
Adrian’s jaw was tight.” I’ve a guess.”
Flora’s stomach twisted.” Who?”
But before he could answer, a voice chimed out from the t
A familiar voice.
“Well, well, no way allowed I’d see you again, Adrian.”
trees
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Flora set.
Adrian’s face darkened.” You.”
A figure stepped into view; gun raised.
The blood drained from her face.
Betrayal ran deep.
And this was just the beginning.
The silence stretched.
The man standing before them was someone Adrian knew. Flora could see it in the way his muscles curled, the slightly subdued
fury in his posture.
“You should not be then,” Adrian said, voice low and dangerous
The snake scowled.” Neither should you.”
Flora gripped her armament tighter.” You sloped them off.”
He signed.” It’s just business.”
Adrian’s jaw gripped.” You vended out your own people.”
A chuckle.” I vended out a pack that was formerly falling piecemeal.”
Flora could feel the rage radiating off Adrian.
We do not have time for this,” she murmured.
But Adrian was not harkening. His eyes locked onto the man like a predator sizing up his prey.
The air between them crepitated.
also, the traitor’s boo faded.
You cannot save them, Adrian. And you sure as hell cannotsave her.”
Flora’s breath caught.
Adrian moved.
Fast
Too fast
A shot chimed out.
CHAPTER
Flora’s world listed.
She was not sure who had fired first.
But as the traitor hit the ground, blood pooling beneath him, she realized something.
Adrian was not just fighting for himself.
He was fighting for her.
And that scarified her further than anything.
The mission was blown.
They had to fall back.
Rhea’s voice cut.” We got to go,
now!!!
Flora slightly heard it. She was still gaping at Adrian, at the storm raging in his eyes, the weight in his bearing.
They had both known it was coming.
They just had not anticipated this.
“Flora,” Adrian said, voice coarse.” You are with me?”
She swallowed hard.
also jounced.
Yeah,” she said.” I am with you.”
For now.
