CHAPTER 34

The Last Decision

The shot rent the night.

Adrian moved before he thought. Instinct. Training. Whatever it was, it sent him diving toward Flora, pulling her down as a bullet whizzed past where she had been standing.

She gasped as they hit the ground. "What the hell—"

"Stay down," Adrian growled. His heart pulsed in his ears. He scanned the darkness for movement.

Already on his feet, gun drawn, eyes sharp, Jace repeated, "Where?"

Cursing under her breath, Alice said, "I didn't see."

Another shot sounded. This one hit the wall behind them, splintering the wood.

Flora tensed beneath him. "They're not aiming to miss."

No, they weren’t.

His mind racing, Adrian thought, the shooter wasn't sloppy. They weren't panicked. That meant one thing: trained.

And trained meant sent.

"They found us," Alice muttered. 

Jace huffed a sigh that was close to a curse. "Figures."

Adrian yanked Flora up behind cover. "You hurt?"

She shook her head. "Not yet."

"Stay that way."

More bullets. This time closer.

Adrian met Jace's gaze. "Flank left."

Jace nodded and moved. Alice followed, not needing to be told. Flora hesitated, looking at him.

"I can fight too."

He knew that. He also knew he couldn't focus if she was in the crossfire.

"Not now," he said. "Stay low. Stay close."

She didn't like it. He saw it in the way her jaw clenched. But she nodded.

Another shot. Then silence.

Jace's voice crackled through the earpiece. "Two shooters. One on the roof, one in the trees."

Figures. They had high ground. That meant they weren't just here to kill. They were here to watch. To report.

"Orders?" Jace asked.

Adrian exhaled. "Take the roof."

Jace moved. Alice went with him.

Flora shifted beside him. "And the trees?"

Adrian pulled his knife. "Mine."

Flora's fingers twitched. "I don't like this."

"Not supposed to."

She didn't argue. But she didn't look away either.

Adrian moved.

The night swallowed him as he slipped into the trees. He knew the terrain better than they did. That gave him an edge.

A rustle. A breath. A mistake.

Adrian struck.

The fight was fast. Brutal. The shooter was good—but Adrian was better. A moment later, the body hit the ground, lifeless.

Silence. Then—

Jace's voice. "Roof's clear."

Adrian exhaled. "Trees too."

Flora appeared at the edge of the trees, eyes scanning him. "You, okay?"

He nodded. "You?

Adrian knelt beside the body. No insignia. No obvious tells. But the way it was dressed, the gear—he knew.

"The Elders."

Flora's breath hitched. Jace cursed again. Alice only smirked.

"Well," she said. "That didn't take long."

Adrian's hands curled into fists.

It had started.

Inside, again, the air felt thick as smoke.

Jace leaned back on the table, crossing his arms. "Well. That was a real barrel of monkeys."

Flora cast him a frown. "Not hilarious."

Alice merely shrugged. "Kind of funny."

Adrian didn't stop them. He just stood at the window, eyes on the tree line. "They found us faster than I expected."

Alice tilted her head. "You did kill Lorne. That's bound to speed things up."

Jace scowled. "You enjoying this?"

Alice smiled. "A little."

Flora sighed. "Focus."

Adrian didn't turn. "They sent scouts. Next, they'll send more."

Jace frowned. "So, what's the plan?"

Adrian's grip on the windowsill tightened. "We leave."

Flora tensed. "What?

"They'll come back," Adrian said. "We can't stay here."

Jace frowned. "And go where?"

Adrian finally turned. His gaze landed on Flora. "That's up to her."

Flora blinked. "Me?"

He nodded. "It's your choice, Flora."

Her heart pounded. "What does that mean?"

Adrian stepped closer. "If you stay, you fight. If you leave, you run. Either way, I go with you."

Silence.

Alice whistled. "Well, damn."

Flora barely heard her. Her eyes locked on Adrian's. "You'd leave everything?"

"For you?" His voice didn't shake. "Yes."

She swallowed. Her mind whirled.

Jace spoke up. "No offense, but maybe this isn't the time for—"

"Shut up, Jace," Alice said.

Jace tossed up his hands. "Fine. I'll just stand here."

Flora breathed out. "Adrian—"

"What is it?" he asked. "Whatever you choose, I'll follow. I just have to know."

Her heart pained. "And if I choose wrong?"

Adrian shook his head. "There is no wrong."

Flora turned away.

Alice leaned against the wall. "Tick-tock, Flora."

Flora shot her a glare. "Not helping."

Alice smirked. "Never do."

Flora ignored her. She sought out Adrian.

Then—

An explosion of shattering.

In an instant, everyone moved-Weapons drawn.

The front door exploded open.

And then—

Lorne stepped inside.

Jace cursed. "Oh, hell no."

Flora's breath caught. "That's not possible."

Adrian said nothing. His face a mask.

Lorne grinned. "Miss me?"

No one spoke.

Then Alice laughed.

Jace turned to her. "What the hell is funny?"

Alice smirked. "He lives. That's hilarious."

Flora's mind raced. "You were dead.

Lorne spread his arms. "What can I say? I'm hard to kill."

Adrian's grip on his knife tightened. "Not hard enough."

Lorne tsked. "Now, now. No need for violence."

Jace snorted. "You shot at us."

Lorne shrugged. "Had to get your attention."

Flora stepped forward. "Why are you here?"

Lorne's smile faded. "Because I'm not the enemy."

Silence.

Then—

Alice laughed again.

Lorne ignored her. He looked at Adrian. "You killed me."

Adrian didn't blink. "I tried."

Lorne smirked. "Not well enough."

Flora's stomach twisted. "You said you're not the enemy."

Lorne nodded. "Because the Elders are. And they're coming."

Alice rolled her eyes. "Yeah, we got that memo."

Lorne turned to her. "You don't get it. They don't just want Adrian." His eyes flicked to Flora. "They want her."

Flora stiffened. "Me?"

Lorne nodded. "You made a choice. You stayed. That makes you a threat."

Her hands curled into fists.

Adrian stepped between them. "She's not going anywhere."

Lorne smirked. "Good."

Jace frowned. "Why's that good?"

Lorne exhaled. "Because if you run, you die. If you fight—" He paused. "You might survive."

Flora's heart pounded.

Adrian didn't look away. "Then we fight."

Lorne grinned. "Knew you'd say that."

Alice sighed. "Well. Guess we're all dying together."

Jace rubbed his face. "I hate this."

Flora looked at Adrian. "Are you sure?"

His eyes were steady. "Are you?"

She exhaled. Then—

She nodded.

Adrian's hand found hers.

A decision had been reached.

And it was irretraceable.