Azriel
Seven Months LaterPerimeter of Sanctum | Midnight | Fog thick enough to taste
The ground was damp with mist, every sound too loud in the stillness. Somewhere behind me, Calyx signaled with two fingers. Northwest gate, unguarded for six minutes at a time. Perfect.
But I couldn't stop watching her.
Selene crouched at my side, face half-lit by the pulsing false-glow radiating off Sanctum's walls. Fire lived in her eyes. Not literal flames, those came later. This was worse. Better. More dangerous.
The kind of fire that didn't ask permission.
Seven months of planning. Seven months of gathering anyone strong enough, brave enough, desperate enough to fight. We'd gone from ten to over five hundred people who were called monsters all their life.
And still, my heartbeat only jumped when she moved.
She twisted to glance at me, mouth curled in a half-smile. "You're staring."
"Noticed that, did you?"
Her brows rose. "You're not subtle."
