Beneath the Crimson Sky

Chapter 12

The day arrived too quickly. The operation was set for dusk, the hour when shadows blended with the darkness, when the world seemed to hold its breath. They would ambush the Marshal’s convoy as planned—stealth, speed, precision. There would be no time for mistakes. Every moment, every decision mattered.

But even in the midst of their preparations, Sofia found her mind drifting—an unfamiliar weight pulling at her chest. She couldn’t shake the image of Sébastien’s face in the moonlight, the quiet ache in his eyes. The way he had held her, just for a second too long. The way his voice had cracked, just beneath the surface.

James hadn’t said anything. He had noticed, though. Sofia could feel his eyes on her more than ever.

Sébastien had pulled away after their exchange by the fire, but his presence lingered like a storm cloud, hanging over her thoughts. His words had been dangerous—too honest, too raw.

“I never stopped thinking about you.”

She didn’t know how to respond to that. She didn’t want to.

And yet, she couldn’t erase the lingering trace of him. It gnawed at her.

By midday, they were ready to move out. James stood with Callum and Mila by the horses, giving final instructions, his posture commanding. But every few moments, his eyes flicked to Sofia—watching, waiting, as if searching for something. Something he knew, but couldn’t name.

Sofia could feel it, like the tension between them was a living thing, coiled tight and ready to snap.

She reached for her pack, her movements mechanical. She couldn’t afford distractions. Not now. She had a mission, a role to play. This was bigger than all of them.

And yet…

“Sofia.”

She froze at the sound of her name. Her heart thudded, but she didn’t turn immediately.

“I need to talk to you,” James said, his voice low and tight.

She glanced over her shoulder. His jaw was clenched, his hands folded in front of him. His face, always composed, was harder than usual—his eyes narrow, studying her with an intensity that felt almost like accusation.

She didn’t answer right away, but instead, she moved towards him slowly, as if buying time. Her fingers brushed against the strap of her rifle, the weight grounding her. She didn’t know what he was going to say. Didn’t know if she was ready for it.

“Is something going on with you and Sébastien?” he asked, his voice laced with frustration.

The question hit her like a slap, and for a split second, she was lost for words. She had no answer that would make sense. Nothing that would be enough to ease the tension already building between them.

“Why?” she asked, her voice clipped, though she could hear the tremor beneath it.

James didn’t hesitate. “You’ve been distant. You haven’t looked at me the same. It’s him, isn’t it?”

Her heart sank, but she didn’t let the frustration show on her face. She crossed her arms, eyes narrowing slightly. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh?” His expression shifted, anger flickering in his eyes. “Then explain it to me. Because I sure as hell don’t understand.”

She stepped forward, her lips pressing into a thin line. “There’s nothing to explain, James. You don’t get to tell me how I should feel.”

His eyes flashed. “You’ve been staring at him all day. Do I need to remind you who’s been here fighting for you all this time? Who’s been protecting your back?”

“I never asked for protection,” she snapped, biting back the urge to shout. “I didn’t ask for any of this. For you. Or him. Or any of this goddamn war.”

The silence between them stretched, heavy and suffocating.

Sofia was angry. Angry at herself, angry at the mess she had found herself in. She couldn’t deny the pull she felt when she saw Sébastien again. She couldn’t ignore how her heart beat faster when their eyes met. But that didn’t mean she wanted to feel that way. It shouldn’t have mattered. Not now.

But she felt it.

James stepped forward, closing the space between them. His body radiated heat, but it was a heat laced with frustration. His breath was shallow, his voice tight with restraint. “I’m tired of pretending, Sofia. This—whatever this is between us—it’s more than just war. And I’m not going to stand by while you play games with him.”

“I’m not playing games,” she muttered, her hands clenched at her sides. “I’m just… trying to survive. And you—both of you—you make it harder.”

“You think it’s easy for me?” James snapped, his eyes darkening. “You think it’s easy watching you fall into his arms after everything we’ve done together? After everything I’ve done for you?”

Sofia recoiled, the sharpness of his words hitting her like a blow. “I never asked for any of this from you. You don’t own me.”

He stiffened, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “I know. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him take you from me.”

A flash of anger surged through her. “You don’t get to control me. Not now, not ever.”

The words were out before she could stop them. And for the first time, the space between them felt impossibly wide, full of unspoken things.

“I’m not trying to control you,” James said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I can’t stand by and watch you tear yourself apart.”

Sofia turned away, her breath catching in her throat. “I’m not tearing myself apart. I’m just… trying to figure out where I stand. And you don’t make that easier.”

She could feel his eyes on her, the heat of his gaze, but she refused to meet it. She couldn’t. Not now.

The silence was broken only by the crackling of the fire in the distance. She walked away, the sharp sting of emotion pushing her forward.

But as she walked past the campfire, she noticed Sébastien watching her from across the flames, his gaze intense, expectant. He had seen. He had heard.

And Sofia felt the weight of it all—her past, her choices, the people she had to lead and protect—bearing down on her.

She didn’t know what would happen when the battle started. But she knew one thing.

The war was never just about survival anymore. It was about something far more dangerous.

And soon, she would have to choose between them.