Back at Elra’s hut, she relayed everything.

Elra’s face tightened. “That place... it's built to hide things. Ancient things. I never thought they would use it on a child.”

“She’s not just a child,” Selene said. “She’s my blood. And they’re keeping her like a secret weapon.”

Alaric entered mid-conversation. “If we storm it, we’ll lose. If we wait, she might not last.”

Selene looked at both of them. “Then we go in silent. No war drums. No loud fights. Just me and ...