The team meeting took place in Onyx House’s common room, which someone had transformed into a proper briefing area complete with holographic displays and uncomfortable chairs.
Braxton stood at the front, looking tired. Dark circles under his eyes suggested he’d slept even less than I had.
"Alright, listen up. The official VHC position is that the Sunken Necropolis experienced an unprecedented mana fluctuation that temporarily elevated the threat level. No external tampering suspected. Case closed."
"That’s garbage," Jacob said immediately.
"Yes. It is. But it’s the garbage we’re going to pretend to believe, because the alternative is becoming persons of interest in a political investigation that will end several careers and possibly some lives."
That shut everyone up.
"The good news," Braxton continued, "is that you’ve all been cleared of any wrongdoing. The bad news is that the Argent Sentinels are requesting a joint debriefing to ’align testimonies.’ Which means they want to make sure we don’t contradict whatever story they’re telling."
"What story are they telling?" Isabelle asked.
"That Julian Valerius showed exceptional leadership under pressure and the combined effort of both teams defeated the Anomaly."
Silence.
Then Raphael started laughing.
"Julian," he said slowly, "showed exceptional leadership. Julian. The guy who tried to use his teammate as a human shield. That Julian."
"The very same."
"And we’re supposed to agree with this?"
"For the time being, yes."
Natalia’s hand found mine under the table. Her grip was tight enough to hurt.
I understood her anger. Julian had nearly gotten her killed. Had nearly gotten all of us killed. And now we were supposed to smile and nod while he took credit for surviving?
But I also understood the game being played.
Julian’s family had connections. Power. Influence. The kind that could make problems disappear.
The Onyx Hounds had nothing but each other.
"When’s this debriefing?" I asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon. Neutral ground. The VHC administrative complex on the mainland."
"I’ll be there."
Braxton’s eyes narrowed. "You’re still recovering."
"I’ll be there," I repeated. "Julian and I need to have a conversation."
The temperature in the room dropped several degrees.
Braxton studied me for a long moment. Whatever he saw in my face made him sigh.
"Fine. But if you collapse during the meeting, I’m not carrying you out."
"Noted."
The meeting continued. Statistics. Rankings. Upcoming training schedules. I absorbed maybe half of it, my mind already racing ahead to tomorrow.
Julian Valerius thought he could rewrite history.
He thought he could turn his cowardice into heroism through the magic of political connections.
He was wrong.
And I was going to enjoy teaching him that lesson.
===
The rest of the day passed in a blur of recovery and planning.
Emi appeared every two hours to check my vitals and force healing energy into my battered body. By evening, my ribs had graduated from agonizing to merely uncomfortable.
Natalia stuck to my side like a shadow, her presence a constant reminder of what we’d nearly lost.
Skylar found me on the balcony around sunset, smoking a cigarette that smelled faintly of something synthetic and probably illegal.
"Nice view," she said, leaning against the railing beside me.
"It’s okay."
"The city looks almost peaceful from up here. Hard to believe there’s a conspiracy trying to kill us somewhere down there."
"Allegedly."
"Right. Allegedly."
She took a long drag, exhaled slowly. The smoke curled up into the fading light.
"You kissed me for a selfish reason," she said without preamble.
"Yes."
"Most guys would lie about that."
"I’m not most guys."
She laughed, short and sharp. "No. You’re really not."
We stood in silence for a moment.
"It was a good kiss though," she admitted. "Top three. Maybe top two."
"Only top two?"
"Don’t push your luck, Stray Dog."
She flicked the cigarette over the railing, watching it fall.
"I don’t share well," she said quietly. "Fair warning."
"Neither does Natalia."
"I noticed." Her violet eyes met mine. "This is going to be complicated."
"Everything in my life is complicated."
"Must be exhausting."
"You have no idea."
She pushed off the railing, started walking back inside. Paused at the door.
"Tomorrow. The debriefing. Don’t do anything stupid."
"Define stupid."
"Anything that gets you killed before I figure out what the hell I’m feeling."
She disappeared inside before I could respond.
===
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, running scenarios in my head. The VHC meeting. Julian’s likely moves. Potential witnesses. Points of leverage.
The key rested on my nightstand, its bronze surface catching the moonlight. The symbols continued their slow dance, rearranging into patterns I almost recognized.
What doors would I need to open?
What truths were waiting behind them?
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in."
Natalia slipped through the door, wearing nothing but an oversized t-shirt that barely reached mid-thigh. Her purple hair hung loose around her shoulders.
"Couldn’t sleep," she said.
"Me neither."
She crossed the room, climbed into bed beside me. Her body pressed against mine, warm and familiar.
"Tomorrow," she said softly.
"Tomorrow."
"I want to kill him."
"I know."
"But we can’t. Not yet. Not directly."
"No."
She was quiet for a moment.
"I hate this. Playing their game. Pretending that coward deserves anything other than a slow death."
"We’re not pretending. We’re waiting."
"For what?"
I turned to face her, traced a finger along her jaw. "For the right moment. Julian’s family has power, but power can be taken. Influence can be undermined. All it takes is patience."
"And if I run out of patience?"
"Then I’ll hold you back until you remember why we’re playing the long game."
Her eyes softened. "You really think we can beat them? The VHC? The conspirators? Whatever else is coming?"
"I think we don’t have a choice."
She kissed me then, slow and deep. The Nectar responded, flooding us both with warmth.
When we broke apart, her eyes were slightly glazed.
"I love you," she whispered. "Is that stupid?"
"Probably."
"Do you love me?"
I thought about the question. Really thought about it.
In my previous life, love had been a weapon. A tool. Something to exploit in others and never allow in myself.
But Natalia had watched me die. Had torn reality apart to save me. Had bound her soul to mine without hesitation.
Did I love her?
"Yes," I said. "God help us both, but yes."
She smiled, brilliant and genuine.
"Good. Because you’re stuck with me now."
"I know."
"Forever."
"I know."
She tucked herself against my side, her head on my chest, her arm draped across my stomach.
Sleep came easier with her there.