Mated To Valentine
"Patterns, cycles, prophecies, like you said. They never expected something that didn’t fit into their usual narratives."
"Exactly," Achilles says, tapping his temple. "They’re used to fighting predictable wars. But the Ascendants? They don’t play by the rules." He shifts slightly, wincing. "And now, here we are, playing catch-up while they gain ground."
I study him carefully. He looks… better. Not great, but better. The color in his face isn’t as ghastly as before.
The wound, though still troubling, doesn’t seem to be eating away at him as viciously.