Lyra chose her team before sunset.
Sarah stood at her right. Gina carried the medical pack. Albert wore no Beta insignia. Two trusted warriors, Marcus and Talia, completed the visible group.
Kael frowned at Gina. "She is not a warrior."
Gina crossed her arms. "And when all your warriors start bleeding, perhaps you can ask the trees to heal them."
Sarah coughed to hide a laugh.
Lyra looked at Kael. "She comes."
He sighed. "Fine."
"You cannot keep sighing every time I give an order."
"I can if it helps me survive them."
For the first time that night, Lyra smiled.
It vanished when they reached the border.
Kael's hidden force separated from them without a word. Before he disappeared into the trees, he touched Lyra's cheek.
"If anything feels wrong—"
"Everything feels wrong."
"You know what I mean."
"I will call you."
"With the bond."
"Yes."
He kissed her forehead and left.
Albert led the visible team toward the abandoned shrine.
