The wind howled through the open courtyard as the transport vehicles screeched to a halt outside Wellington Academy. Snow and mud splattered against the cobblestones, mixing into a dull grey slurry beneath their boots as the team disembarked. The sun had barely risen, but the tension that followed them back was heavy enough to blot out what little light dared to shine.
Scarlett could still smell the smoke on her uniform. It clung to her hair, her skin, her thoughts. The mission was supposed to be a simple retrieval. Instead, they’d barely made it out alive.
“Pierce, Hawthorne. My office. Now.”
Lieutenant Crawford’s voice cracked like a whip across the yard. His expression was grim, his gloved hands clasped tightly behind his back as he turned and marched toward the command building.
Et
