As Alison stormed down the hallway, her mind was already formulating a plan. She knew she couldn’t confront her father again—not directly. He was too entrenched in his own fears and grief to see reason. But that didn’t mean she had to sit idly by and let Darius walk into danger alone. She had skills, contacts, and knowledge that could help him, even if he didn’t realize it yet.
She stopped by her quarters, quickly grabbing a small bag and slipping a few essential tools inside. Her heart raced as she thought about what she was about to do—going behind her father’s back, defying his direct orders—but there was no time to second-guess herself. She had to act, and fast.
Alison’s mind returned to Darius and the weight he carried. She knew he was driven by the need to save his sister, but he c
