Chapter 11
August 11, 2029
Avery POV
I check the mana gun's charge. Fully powered.
The GPS signaled multiple mana signatures ahead—twenty, maybe more—all clustered within the canyon. That means one thing: the nest hasn't moved.
We have to go through the northwest pass. It's the only viable path for a group this large.
The canyon offers shelter with its steep stone walls, but it's also the perfect hunting ground. Shadows swallow sound there, and the ground echoes just enough to mask the skittering of those cursed centipede beasts.
I slip on my gloves. Reinforced leather with steel-lined fingers, perfect for recoil control. Sparkle rests beside me, her enormous body stretched out like a lazy housecat, though I know her senses are tuned to every movement around us.
From the corner of my eye, I see Commander Mercer directing his men. Efficient. Clean. His voice cuts through the din with practiced ease. He commands respect without demanding it. People follow him naturally.
It's annoying.
We've been traveling together for weeks now. Cordial. Not friendly. Not hostile. Polite distance.
Elias is staying behind with a squad of scouts. He'll secure the rear in case anything circles back while Jace leads the main force through the pass.
The sun begins to sink behind the canyon cliffs, painting the sky in deep orange and bruised purple. That's our cue. These mana centipedes are nocturnal—massive, chitin-covered, with venom strong enough to paralyze even an awakened in seconds. And tonight, we have to pass through their nest.
Sparkle purrs lowly beside me.
She's ready.
So am I.
***
Jace POV
I make my way toward Avery. He's standing near the edge of the cliff, the wind catching the hem of his cropped black top. His cargo pants are tucked into his combat boots, a utility belt slung low on his hips. His posture is casual, but there's tension coiled in him, like a blade waiting to unsheathe.
He doesn't acknowledge me as I approach.
"It's almost time," I say. "I came to brief you on the plan."
He turns, and for a second—
Everything stops.
The setting sun hits him squarely. His features are softened by the light, warm hues igniting across his skin. His honey-brown hair glows like amber, strands drifting around his face in the breeze. And his eyes—those dark eyes—catch the light and shift into something golden, something burning.
He is breathtaking.
There's something inside me, like a chord snapping taut.
I don't understand the sudden silence in my thoughts or why I can't look away.
His expression hardens. I see the shift—like a storm passing over sunlit water.
"Don't worry about me," he says. "And don't include me in your plan. In case you've forgotten, I've survived alone for years."
His words cut sharper than they should.
I clench my jaw.
Why does he treat Elias like a person, and me like a mosquito buzzing near his ear?
"Believe me, I don't," I snap. "I just don't need you dying before we reach our destination."
"Oh, that's it?" he says mockingly.
"Worry not, Commander. I'm definitely not dying today."
He steps behind Sparkle—who is easily over two meters tall—and disappears from view.
Vanished, like he was never there.
The wall of fur and fang between us is more than literal. It's the chasm I can't cross.
I move instinctively, trying to follow—
But Sparkle lifts her head and lets out a low, guttural growl.
A warning.
I back off.
Message received.
I walk away, seething quietly.
Back at my gear station, I prep my gun. This new version of the mana weapon? It has twice the capacity and a tighter core pulse radius than any of Elias' prototypes. Of course it was Avery's work.