“Altitude stable. Temperature drop accelerating."
Mara's voice crackled through the cockpit comms as the stealth jet climbed into stratospheric shadow. The aurora shimmered ahead—electric green and violet ribbons curling across the sky like live veins.
Aria sat strapped into a rear seat, one hand curled protectively over the pocket holding her Xi-Ω vial.
Dominic sat across from her, silent. Pale.
She leaned forward. “You're sweating."
He wiped his brow. “It's the pressure drop."
“No, it's LAMIA. The intervals are shortening."
He looked away. “It's fine."
She unbuckled, moving to his side. “You're shaking."
“Don't—"
She pressed the auto-injector against his neck and fired a half-dose of the test serum. His muscles spasmed briefly—then steadied.
Her own vision blurred.
“I took a
