The night before the mission broke in quiet waves over the Obsidian Sanctum. Stars blinked overhead—silent witnesses to gods and monsters, lovers and war. And on the wind, somewhere distant, the faintest pulse of Overseer energy shimmered like a beacon only a heart could hear.
They moved before dawn.
Samantha led the way, her cloak flaring like wildfire behind her. Marcus flanked her right, a wall of fury barely restrained beneath his obsidian armor. Kai, shirt half-open, blades twinkling with mischief and menace, flanked her left. Melusine had stayed behind with Nova, the cocoon now resting in a cradle of silver and salt to hide it from Overseer scrying.
"Last chance to back out," Kai said with a cheeky wink.
Samantha didn't even glance at him. "Don't make me slap you."
"That's the spirit," Kai whispered, and blew her a kiss.
