The kiss was a perfect moment in a world of endless chaos. It was a promise forged in the heat of a secret war they were both fighting, a moment of warmth and hope. For a single heartbeat, there was no Bureau. There was no decaying serum. There was no crushing weight of a nation on his shoulders. There was only Vanessa, and the simple, undeniable truth of what she meant to him.
And then the world, with all its problems, came crashing back in.
A sharp, urgent chime from the comm unit on Jonah's wrist broke the silence. It was the Headmaster's private channel, a special signal he used only for the most dire, world-shaking emergencies.
Jonah's heart plunged from the gentle warmth of the moment into a cold dread. He saw the same feeling reflected on Vanessa's face. The good moment was over. The war was back.
He tapped the comm, his hand feeling heavy. "Jonah here."
