CHAPTER Eight

Aziz's Pov

We slipped through a patch where the trees tangled around ancient stones, roots gripping so tight they split the boulders clean in half. 

She sprang onto a rock, steady as a stalking cat. I stayed close, eyes following hers into the clearing below.

What was left looked like the bones of a church stone, ribs poking from the dirt, beams leaning like drunks, chunks swallowed by moss and creepers.

 I wasn't sure, but that's what I guessed.

Between the wreckage, canvas tents sagged under smoke and damp air.

Someone had hammered iron spikes into old pews to hold up tarps; ash from campfires drifted through the gaps.

I didn't stare at just one thing I took in the rhythm: the masked men drifting like restless dogs, broad hats dropping shadows over eyes they didn't want seen. 

Men drifted among them masked from nose to chin with rough cloth, wide hats shadowing their eyes, long coats brushing the dust.

 Holsters weighed down their hips; arcane rifles slung easy across their backs, like they'd spit lightning for sport.

I squinted. "What in the world is this?"

She shifted her weight, hand at her hip, eyes flicking everywhere but mine.

"Used to be a church. Earthquake brought it down."

I jerked my chin at the men below. "I can see that. I'm talking about them."

She let out a short, amused laugh. "Them? No idea. They showed up one spring and made this place theirs."

"Now they roam these hills like they wrote the map. Nobody's managed to chase them off yet not for lack of trying."

I watched them drift through the wreckage, their masks and arcane rifles glinting in the moonlight. If Mother found this nest first, none would walk away. Better I handle it before her storm hits.

I cleared my throat, stepping beside her. "Hey—" I paused. "I don't even know your name."

She tilted her head, eyes bright. "Hope."

I gave a curt nod.

She grinned, fingers brushing her brow. "Mind if I ask yours? Though I'll probably call you 'Hero.'"

I shook my head, voice low. "It's Aziz. And we're infiltrating this camp ."

Her breath caught in a sharp laugh. "Yes," she whispered, eyes blazing with anticipation.

I was still piecing together a plan when the hiss of steel snapped my head around.

"What are you doing?" I barked.

She had two swords out slender, curved, each with a fine cord coiled along the spine like a whip waiting to bite.

"It's better to make a plan as we go," she said, grinning as the strings snapped taut. "That's life. It's always changing."

Before I could curse her for it, she leapt down into the dark.

She landed hard in the clearing, knees bent, twin swords catching the moonlight. With a sharp grin, she threw her head back and roared, loud enough to rattle the trees.

The masked men froze, rifles wavering. One cursed, another hissed, "Is she mad?"

She lunged before they could react. Blades flashed, strings snapped out — two dropped gurgling, another stumbled back, clutching a sliced arm.

"Shoot her, damn it!" someone yelled. Gunfire cracked, Arcane bullets ripping through leaves and dirt. She twisted through it, faster than I'd ever seen, laughter spilling from her lips as shots missed by inches.

"She's too fast!" one of them shouted, fear cracking his voice.

She caught my eye above her, grinning like a devil.

"HERO! Look at me, I'm faster now!"

but I pointed, jaw tight.

"Behind you."

She spun just as three masked men burst through the smoke, rifles raised.

They fired, but I was faster.

I flicked my fingers, and the air between us thickened. The glowing bullets halted mid-flight, caught in the invisible force I bent around her. They trembled for a moment, frozen inches from her spine.

A masked gunman yanked his cloth down, revealing a crooked grin. "Well, I'll be damned," he drawled, voice rough as gravel.

Another chuckled from the shadows. "We've been careful, boys don't reckon we slipped up."

The first spat to the side. "Nah. Ain't 'cause we messed up. He's with that Shujaa girl," he nodded toward her dual-sword stance, blades crossing like lightning.

"Odd duo, that," the second drawled, tipping his hat back. "Boys, meet the Prince of Kingston one of the Yeager brothers."

He lifted his chin, mask dangling from one finger. "Levi."

I stepped forward, raising an eyebrow. "No sir. That's the crazy one. I'm Aziz."