Verity's POV

The world narrowed to this single moment—Veyran's burning eyes, the shadow spears pressed against the throats of everyone I loved, the border so close behind us it might as well have been a thousand miles away.

Time seemed to slow.

I could hear Cassian's labored breathing, feel Caleb's desperate gaze boring into me, sense Azazel's rage at being unable to protect me. Each heartbeat was a drum counting down to a choice that would define everything.

Veyran's lips curved into ...