Page 171 of Scarlet Wars
“Neither was yours,” I replied. “But then again, a fierce warrior of Slava never is.”
A ghost of a smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
“Last I heard, you were pregnant. May I inquire after your child?” I had no idea why I suddenly sounded so formal, but my instincts screamed at me to keep my distance.
Her eyes narrowed. “You may not.”
I blinked, a little shocked by her reply. And worried I’d inadvertently said something inconsiderate. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
I quickly turned toward Petru, feeling a bit awkward about my failed attempt at befriending his sister. “Thank you,” I mumbled quickly. “I do apologize you had to portal in for this.”
Petru’s dark eyes softened slightly before he shook his head once. “I don’t mind. I’m always proud to stand by your side.”
Warmth spread through my chest. Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.
The world seemed to gasp at my audacity, until Petru Stoyan—after a moment of rigid hesitation—awkwardly hugged me back.
I swore I could hear Caden chuckle when Petru patted my back in the most uncomfortable gesture I’d ever felt, his hands hovering like he wasn’t entirely sure what to do with them.
When I finally released him, he looked utterly bewildered, like I’d handed him a live grenade.
“Thank you,” I whispered again.
When I stepped back, Petru extended a hand toward Caden, who shook it with a steady grip. Their eyes met in quiet understanding, something forged not through words, but through shared experience.
When Petru’s gaze slid toward Sean, his expression flickered with dry amusement. “We found the unflushable shits you left behind during your last visit.”
Sean smirked. “Whoops.”
Jackson laughed, a deep, warm sound that rippled through the clearing.
Petru turned back to me. “I assume you’ll be explaining this to the other Collectives?”
I hesitated, uncertain whether this was the usual way of doing things. “Actually, I believe mister Lau will be doing so, seeing as how he just became the spokesperson for peace.”
I glanced at my friend. Jackson’s brow lifted in slight surprise at my suggestion, but after a brief pause, he nodded in agreement. “It’s why my Leader brought me here,” he said smoothly, his tone settling into practiced confidence. “And it would be my honor to do so.”
James nodded, but his jaw remained tight. Beneath the lines of tension, his focus stayed on me, like he was trying to figure out exactly what I’d put into motion.
No one said another word. We didn’t need to.
As one, the Offensives of Slava stepped through their portals, vanishing into the cold shimmer of green magic.
Those of Kanata C and Crown followed, James and Jackson on their heels, until only Caden and I remained.
The clearing felt emptier for it.
I grabbed Caden’s hand and squeezed once, then drew a deep breath and pulled the magic up through my palms, a swirl of green light forming around my fingers, right as I caught something at the far edge of the clearing.
A shape. A disturbance.
Something breaking the pattern of stillness like a stone through glass.
My eyes snapped to the tree line as one man stepped out of the shadows: human, armed, his face blank, focused, and impossibly calm.
Our gazes locked for a single, brutal heartbeat. He lifted his rifle, sighting straight on me.
It was the same look.
