Lyra's POVSlowly, I gave in, the heat of his body offering a strange safety, though my thoughts were drifting back to that man, whatever he might have been.Orion began nudging the plate of food toward me. "Eat before it gets cold."I picked up my fork and ate very slowly. Somehow, my appetite was gone now. But he was right. We had to build up strength. I needed to think straight.He watched me silently for a while, then grabbed his own plate and began eating again."We'll leave in an hour or so," he said between bites. “We’ll blend into the community until I can figure out who to talk to.”I paused mid-chew. “What if they recognize us?”“They won’t,” he said calmly. “We’ve masked our scents. As long as we don’t do anything stupid, we’ll be fine.”I set my fork down. “You make it sound so easy.”Orion glanced at me, his eyes steady. “It’s not. But panicking will only make it worse.”I sighed and nodded. “Got it.”After we ate, he stood and began putting the dishes back into the bag.
Kate's POVWe all picked our weapons from the duffel bag the Captain's men laid open. Guns, silver blades, smoke bombs, and even strange grenades I couldn't name.I picked a compact pistol and a blade small enough to hide on my thigh. Kira went for a lightweight rifle, and Keto took two handguns like the overachiever he was.The Captain clapped his hands. "Alright, party's packed. Let's move."I adjusted my jacket and followed behind Keto as we approached the river. The boat was waiting, an old, rugged thing with a driver who looked like he hadn’t smiled in years."All aboard," the boatman grunted."Is this thing safe?" I asked, eyeing the water."Safer than walking," he muttered.We all climbed in. Kira sat beside me, quiet, fiddling with the edge of her sleeves. I knew she was nervous. So was I.We were halfway across the river when we noticed the ravens. Black shapes in the sky. One, two, then more. Circling, weaving patterns like a warning written in shadows."Creepy birds," one
Kate's POVThe sun was already rising by the time we arrived in the clearing where the Captain had told us he would be waiting.Keto slowed down as we spotted the black bus parked under a cluster of trees. It was silent there, the wind blowing leaves across the parched track. I spotted him almost immediately, their captain.He was standing straight, arms folded, dark shades hiding his eyes, and chewing gum like he was the boss of the world. I stepped out first, and after spotting me, he smiled."Well, well," he said, opening his arms. "If it isn't my favorite troublemaker."I laughed and went to hug him. His hug was warm and firm, as always."Good to see you," I said."Likewise, Kate." He stepped back, eyeing the two coming down from the jeep. "So, these are your people?"I half-turned. "Yeah. This is Keto, he's the one running the op. And that's Kira."Banks threw a casual salute. "Pleasure. I've heard the name Keto get tossed around. Heard individuals with that name get things done.
Lyra's POVThere was a man in the bathroom. I did not recognize him. He just stood there, staring at me, not uttering a word. My eyes widened in horror, and I used my hands to cover my body."What the hell," I began to say.But he was gone in a flash.He just vanished.I swallowed hard. I looked at the spot where he was just a moment before, and then no one was around.I blinked a few times, trying to understand what just happened. Was I losing my mind? Was he a witch?I stepped back and shut the bathroo
Kate's POVI didn't get a wink of sleep the whole night through.Every time I attempted to close my eyes, I was stuck thinking about the face of my brother, and then that voice of that son of a gun on the phone kept replaying inside my head. It was like a broken cassette.Fifteen million dollars in three days.I didn't have that kind of money. And I couldn't tell anyone, not yet. We had a mission to contemplate. If I broke down or lost focus, all could be for naught. Ravenna and Orion needed help. If anything did happen to them because of my distraction, I couldn't live with myself.So I got up, put on a black top and jeans, pulled my hair back, and l
Lyra's POVI stared at Orion, trying to understand what he just said. Dying? I took a step back.“What do you mean I’m dying?” I asked slowly, my voice trembling.Orion looked at me, his own face calm but unyielding. "The fact that you're an alpha. It's killing you, Ravenna. Even if you've not realized it yourself."I felt like the earth had shifted from under my feet. "That doesn't make sense.""Every time you change," he interrupted gently, "the symptoms will get worse. You'll lose strength. Your strength will drop rapidly. Your body will start to fail you. It's not your fault, but it's happening."My lips shut themselves."So what, you brought me here to die?""No," he said. "I brought you here because the witches can help you."I stared at him as if I didn't know him. "A witch?" I laughed. "Why didn't you inform me of this earlier, before we even crossed the river? Before I gulped down that potion to mask my scent?""I did not want you to be afraid," he said quietly. "And then you