(Ava’s POV)
The woods were too quiet.
Even the usual rhythm of boots against soft soil felt wrong—muted, like the trees were holding their breath. We moved under cover of night, shadows among shadows. The sky was overcast, the moon a sickle buried behind clouds, and the tension riding the air was nearly unbearable.
I could feel the eyes on me.
They tried not to be obvious, but warriors I’d once trained beside now hesitated just a second too long when I gave commands. Their trust had curdled into scrutiny, and I could taste it with every step. One miscalculation. One stumble. That’s all it would take to undo everything.
“Four clicks northeast,” Rhea muttered beside me. “Camp should be close.”
I nodded, checking the map one more time. The coordinates were exact—intel pulled from a patr
