DARIUS POV
Reya spread the map across the table, her finger tracing the jagged mountain range that separated us from the Summit’s Nexus.
“This is where they keep their arcane core,” she said. “It powers the telepathic link between the Alpha councils. If we destroy it, we cut them off. At least long enough to regroup.”
Nora stood beside me, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
“And their guards?” she asked.
Reya smirked. “Unbreakable enchantments. Venom-stitched wolves. Traps even I won’t pretend to know how to disarm.”
“So, it’s suicide,” I muttered.
Silas shook his head. “No. It’s necessary.”
I looked at Nora.
She didn’t hesitate.
“When do we leave?”
NORA POV
We left that night.
Me. Darius. Reya. Silas.
And Kalen—hidden deep beneath the protection dome Reya had laced with
