Asher's Loyalty

The fortress loomed behind us as we returned to camp, dragging Rory along. His smug facade had cracked, revealing the desperation beneath. But despite his defeat, I couldn’t shake the unease that settled in my chest. We had stopped Rory this time, but he was only one piece of the puzzle. The Circle was still out there, still planning, still dangerous.

As we bound Rory in the holding tent, I watched him carefully. His eyes darted around, calculating, always thinking, always scheming. Even now, he was trying to find a way out of this, a way to salvage his plan. I had to give him credit for his persistence, but it was exactly that trait that made him so dangerous.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Cash muttered to Rory as he tied the last knot. “You’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Rory smirked, leaning back as much as the bindings allowed. “You think this is over? You have no idea what’s coming.”