The hum of the ship was a constant beneath Mae's feet, a soft vibration that seemed to seep into her bones as they ascended into the cold expanse of space. The stars outside twinkled like distant memories, and for a moment, she allowed herself to be lost in their beauty, the same beauty that had once filled her with wonder. Now, it was just another reminder of how far she had fallen, how much had changed.
She could feel the distance between herself and the others, the silence in the air thickening as they left the planet behind. Lucien, Riven, Ashar, and Sethis were all somewhere in the ship, preparing for what was to come. But Mae remained on the edge, a quiet observer, struggling to push past the ache in her chest.
She wanted to believe the promises they had made. She wanted to believe that they would find Kaine, that they would get the babies back. But the uncertainty gnawed at her, making it hard to trust even the calm voices of those around her.
A quiet knock on the door pulled Mae from her thoughts. She turned to see Lucien standing in the doorway, his presence as commanding as always. His eyes met hers with a quiet intensity, but there was something different about him now. It wasn't just the weight of the war that pressed on his shoulders, it was something deeper, something that Mae couldn't quite name.
"We need to talk," he said simply, his voice soft but urgent. Mae hesitated for a moment before nodding and stepping aside to let him in. The door slid shut behind him with a soft hiss, and the room suddenly felt smaller, more intimate, the silence between them thick with unspoken words.
Lucien didn't waste time. "I know what you're feeling," he said, his voice low. "The war ahead, it's bigger than any of us can understand. The Unseen are just the beginning. There's something more coming, Mae. Something ancient. And we're not ready for it."
Mae looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any sign of weakness, of fear. But there was nothing. He was the same unyielding figure she had come to rely on, the one who had kept them all alive through countless dangers. Yet, in this moment, she could see something in him that she hadn't before, an uncertainty that mirrored her own.
"You're right," she whispered. "We're not ready for this. But we don't have a choice, do we?" Lucien met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "No. We don't." The weight of those words hung in the air, heavier than the silence that followed. Mae could feel the pulse of their connection, the bond that had grown between them. It was undeniable, and for the first time, it terrified her.
The ship continued its journey, the stars outside spinning by in a blur. But Mae's mind was elsewhere, lost in the darkness that loomed ahead. The war, the Unseen, the gods, they were all coming for them. And no matter how much they tried to prepare, no matter how hard they fought, Mae knew one thing for sure: nothing would ever be the same again.
Lucien broke the silence first. His voice was a quiet rumble, filled with the kind of certainty Mae had come to expect from him. "The codex is more than just a key. It's our only chance at understanding what the Unseen want. We need to study it, but the truth, it won't be easy to face."
Mae's heart skipped a beat. The codex. It had been their most guarded secret, a relic from a time when the gods still walked among mortals. It was said to hold the knowledge of their creation, the answers to questions that had been buried for centuries. And now it was in their hands, ready to reveal its secrets, or maybe destroy them.
Mae's hands clenched at her sides. "What happens if we can't control it? If it's too much?" Lucien's eyes softened, but there was no pity in them, only understanding. "Then we do what we've always done. We fight. But it's not just us this time, Mae. The stakes are higher. The gods aren't just watching, they're coming."
The weight of his words sank into Mae's chest like a stone. She could feel the pressure of their reality, the crushing inevitability of the war. There was no running from it. No hiding. They were already in the thick of it.
Riven's voice cut through the tension, sharp and clear. He entered the room, his wings folding behind him, his eyes scanning the space. "Lucien's right. We need to understand what we're up against before it's too late. But we need to be prepared for what comes next. We can't afford to lose focus."
Mae nodded, her resolve hardening. Riven was right. They couldn't afford to let fear control them. But the fear wasn't just about the Unseen. It was about what would happen to them all. Would they survive the coming war, or would they become pawns in something far greater than they could comprehend?
"We can't go back," she whispered, mostly to herself. But Lucien heard her, and his gaze softened once more. "No," he replied quietly. "But we'll make sure the war doesn't consume us."
Mae wasn't sure if she believed him, but the promise of something, of survival, was enough to anchor her in this moment. There was no turning back now. The war was here, and whether they were ready or not, they had to face it.
The ship hummed louder now, the sound growing as it picked up speed. Sethis appeared in the doorway, his eyes dark with something unreadable. "We're nearing my planet. Prepare yourselves. The war begins soon."
Mae swallowed, nodding. The moment had come. The ship tilted as it broke through the atmosphere, the stars spinning above them like pinpricks of light in the vast expanse. Below them lay Sethis's planet, a place of safety, or so they hoped.
But Mae knew the truth. There was no safety anymore. Only the unknown. As the ship began its descent, Mae caught one last glance at Lucien. His gaze was unwavering, the flicker of something deep within him settling into place. And with that, the future was no longer a mystery. It was a war.
As the ship landed on Sethis's planet, the others quickly disembarked, leaving Mae and Lucien behind. The silence between them felt heavier now, the air thick with unspoken words. Mae's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of everything pressing down on her. Lucien stood by the door, his back turned to her, but she could feel his presence, like a shadow she couldn't escape.
Slowly, she moved toward him, her breath shaky. "Lucien," she whispered, but he didn't turn. Instead, his hand reached out, pulling her closer, the connection between them undeniable, dangerous, as the world outside seemed to hold its breath.