CHAPTER 23

Last Resort

"Flora! Behind!" Adrian's voice cuts through the menaces from the spattered sounds of gunshot to the thunderous explosion of shells.

In a just-in-time reflex, she wheeled around to be able to crouch from that bullet as it whipped around her shoulder; buckling and started going down with hardly any more time when suddenly Adrian got him behind the ruin, exhaled breathing so hoarse:

"Damn it, Adrian," she spat, clutching her bleeding shoulder with one hand, trying to steady herself using the other.

"I'm not going to let you die, not while I still can do something about it." His voice came gruff yet unyielding, his gaze still fixed on the battlefield as his eyes watched every movement with military precision.

"Then let me do something," she flashed, her voice quivering with anger and pain. "You are not the only one to protect us-you know.

For an instant, his eyes softened before hardening all over again. "I am not here because of some heroic moment, Flora," he returned, voice hardly above a murmur under the din of clashing arms. "You think I am concerned about such things at the moment? Because I care for you, that is why. And I wouldn't leave you to get your own self killed.

Flora had no time to answer. This was far from over, and it had never been higher. She could feel the tension rise in the air, the last moments of war dragging on everybody's nerves to a breaking point.

The earth shook, a blast going off not far from them, heaving debris. She winced as shrapnel ripped through her arm, but there was no time to stop. They were close. The enemy wasn't running. Neither did they.

She turned to Adrian, who eyed the space like a hawk. "We need to press on," she said, voice tight. "They'll keep coming if we don't finish this now."

Adrian nodded. He took her hand, pulling her to her feet even though he was just as bruised as she was. His hold was sure, steady. He was always the one who kept them anchored.

And to that, Flora said nothing. She followed as he led the charge, running toward the last stronghold of the enemy. Surrounded on every side, they were overcome the moment-a small cut of hope-belonged to them. Her heart was racing in her chest, sharp bursts of breathing, but she refused to stop.

"You need to fall back!" one of them yelled above the din, waving them toward cover. "We can't hold them off much longer!"

Flora turned to him, her gaze catching on the tension in his jaw. They knew what that meant. "We don't have time for that," she said, not looking away from him.

For one brief instant, he had met her gaze, his expression an image of concern and firm resolution. "You're right. We end this now."

With that, they pushed on-word, every step a fight against the unrelenting tide of gunfire, explosions, and shouts. Adrian was beside her every step of the way, and for the first time in a long while, Flora wasn't thinking about what had happened between them. The past didn't matter. Not anymore.

She led them across the finish line, carving a precise path through the defences and cutting down anything they could, until the innermost sanctum of the enemy stronghold lay at their doorstep; the door swung shut with the unmistakable clang-a trap.

Adrian spat a curse, and all the weight of such a moment lay upon Flora. Time was running out for them.

"There's a way in," Flora said suddenly, pointing sideways at the next moment. She was already running before Adrian could utter a word of protest. There was no choice-the risk had to be taken.

They hunched low, making their way through the back way into the compound, dodging debris and keeping to the shadows. Flora felt the sweat on her forehead, the tension in her body. It wasn't just the enemy they were running from anymore. It was the realization that they were at the final point in this war-the point of no return.

They gained the central control room, which was actually the heart of their operations. But as they pushed through the door, they froze.

Alice was standing there, her arms crossed, a twisted smile on her lips.

"Well, well, Flora," Alice drawled. "I have to admit, I thought you'd be dead by now."

Flora’s heart pounded. She had no idea how Alice had gotten here, but it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered now was finishing this.

“You’ve lost, Alice,” Flora said coldly. "You don’t have the power anymore."

Alice’s smile only widened. “You think it’s just me, don’t you?” she said, her eyes glinting. “You still don’t get it, do you? The real power is far beyond what you’ve ever imagined.”

Before Flora could answer, the walls around them began to shake. A low rumble echoed across the compound as the lights flickered and went out completely.

"What's going on?" Adrian demanded; his voice tight with tension.

Flora looked around, her instincts screaming at her. "It's a diversion," she said, her mind racing. "Alice is just a pawn. Someone else is pulling the strings.

And then, out of the shadows, a figure stepped forward-tall with an almost regal presence.

"Surprised to see me, Flora?" The voice was smooth, too calm, too confident.

Flora froze. She knew this voice.

The figure stepped into the light, revealing a man she hadn't seen in years. Yet there he was, standing before her as if nothing had changed.

"Gabriel," she breathed.

Adrian instinctively stepped in front of Flora, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Who the hell is this?"

Flora didn't answer. She couldn't. All the years of hiding from this man, all the pain she'd tried to bury, were rushing back to the surface in one crushing wave.

"Gabriel," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why. why are you doing this? After everything we-

Gabriel's smirk only deepened. "You think this is personal? It's not, Flora. It's about survival. And you two are in my way."

Adrian's fists clenched, his posture tense, but Flora felt him falter for just a moment. Gabriel had always been a shadow in her life. And now, it seemed like that shadow had finally come to claim what was his.

You screwed it up, Gabriel," she told him, even tone while heart racing. "The pack will not fall for that."

"Is that right?" Gabriel was saying, in a voice sopping with sarcasm. "The pack already is on its knees; only time will get them to face that fact.

Flora exchanged a look with Adrian, who nodded the faintest of nods. They were in this together, no matter what Gabriel thought he could pull off.

But before they could act, the earth beneath their feet shook again. Whatever was happening outside, it was bigger than anything that had happened to them so far.

Flora’s mind raced, but she couldn’t ignore the present danger. She wasn’t about to let Gabriel get away with this. Not now.

“Flora, Adrian,” Alice’s voice broke the tension, sharp and menacing. “This isn’t over.”