A Shocking Truth

The messenger’s eyes gleamed beneath his hood as I opened my mouth to speak. The weight of the decision threatened to crush me—accept the ultimatum and trade away the Heartstone and Rory, or fight and face annihilation. Every second dragged, and I felt Elijah’s sharp gaze burning into the side of my face, urging me to reject the offer. Asher stood behind me, his silent presence as steady as a shadow, though something about him felt distant, even more so since this ultimatum had been delivered.

“I...” My voice faltered. This wasn’t just about what I wanted—it was about every life on the line, about the fate of everyone I had sworn to protect.

But just as I prepared to give my answer, an unexpected thought struck me—There’s something they’re not telling us.*

And I couldn’t ignore it.

“We need time,” I finally said, forcing calm into my voice. “The decision isn’t yours to rush.”

The messenger’s smile faltered for a moment, but then he bowed mockingly. “You have until dawn.”