Four hours later, Sage looked like she might collapse at any moment, but the spell was complete.
Luna stared at the glowing runes carved into a flat stone, feeling the magic pulse with energy that made her teeth ache. "This will really show humans the corruption?"
"It'll make Void Walker influence visible as black energy radiating from infected individuals." Sage's voice was hoarse from chanting. "Can't miss it. Can't deny it. Can't explain it away as special effects or hallucinations."
"How long will it last?"
"Ten minutes maximum. After that, the spell burns itself out." Sage wiped sweat from her forehead. "And I can only cast it once. After that, I'll be completely drained magically. Useless in any fight."
Luna nodded, already running through tactical possibilities. "We activate it when the corrupted agents make their move. Show the other government forces that their own people have been compromised."
"And hope they believe their eyes instead of opening fire on everything supernatural," Magnus added from where he'd been monitoring the government perimeter. "That's a lot of faith to put in human rationality."
"You have a better idea?" Luna asked.
Magnus was quiet for a moment. "No. I just hope you're right about this."
The sun was setting now, painting the sky in shades of red and gold that felt ominous. Twenty-four hours until the portal opened. Maybe less if the acceleration continued.
Luna needed air. Space to think without everyone watching her for answers she didn't have.
She slipped away from the command area, heading toward a quiet spot near the stream where she'd first sensed corruption in her wolf form. The water moved over rocks with sounds that should have been peaceful, but just reminded her of time running out.
"You're good at that."
Luna turned to find Kieran approaching, his storm-gray eyes reflecting the sunset. "Good at what?"
"Disappearing when things get too heavy." He sat down on a large boulder near the water's edge. "I do the same thing sometimes."
Luna joined him, their shoulders touching as they watched the stream. "How do you handle it? Being responsible for so many lives?"
"Some days are better than others." Kieran's voice was quiet, thoughtful. "Some days I wake up and remember every person who died following my orders, and I wonder if I'm even worthy of leading."
"But you keep going."
"Because someone has to." He looked at her, and Luna saw vulnerability in his expression that he usually kept hidden. "And because I've found reasons to fight that go beyond just duty."
Something in his tone made Luna's heart skip. "What reasons?"
Kieran reached over and took her hand, his fingers warm against hers. "You. Us. Whatever this is between us."
Luna's breath caught. She'd known there was attraction between them, chemistry that sparked every time they touched. But this felt bigger. More real.
"Kieran—"
"I know the timing is terrible," he continued, his grip on her hand gentle but firm. "I know we're facing extinction and you've got impossible choices ahead. But I need you to know that I'm falling for you, Luna. Have been since you chose to fight instead of run that first night."
The confession hit Luna like a physical blow. Part of her wanted to pull away, to protect herself from feelings that could only complicate an already impossible situation. But another part, the part that had been drawn to Kieran from the moment they met, wanted to lean in.
"I don't know what to say," she admitted.
"You don't have to say anything." Kieran lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles that sent warmth spreading through her chest. "I just needed you to know. In case... in case tomorrow doesn't go well."
The thought of losing him made Luna's chest tighten painfully. "Don't talk like that."
"I'm going through that portal, Luna. If we can't find another way to close it, I'm going." His eyes held absolute conviction. "I can't let Magnus sacrifice himself, and I sure as hell won't let you try it. So, it has to be me."
"No." Luna turned to face him fully, both hands gripping his now. "Nobody's sacrificing themselves. We'll find another way."
"And if we don't?"
"Then we'll..." Luna's words died as Kieran leaned in, his forehead resting against hers.
"I love you," he said simply. "I know it's fast and probably crazy, but I love you. And I wanted to say it while I still could."
Luna's eyes burned with tears she refused to let fall. "Kieran..."
He kissed her.
Not the desperate, needy kind of kiss Luna had imagined their first real kiss might be. This was gentle, almost reverent, like he was trying to memorize the feel of her lips against his. Luna's hands moved to his face, holding him close as she kissed him back.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing hard, Luna felt like something fundamental had shifted in her chest.
"I," she started, but movement at the treeline caught her eye.
Magnus stood there, his expression unreadable. How long had he been watching?
Kieran stood up, his hand still holding Luna's. "Magnus."
"Don't." Magnus's voice was tight. "Don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for."
But Luna could see pain in his eyes, could hear it in the careful control of his voice. He'd come here to say something similar, she realized. And he'd walked in on Kieran beating him to it.
"Magnus, I," Luna started.
"The government forces are moving," Magnus interrupted, his tone shifting to tactical. "Thomas needs you at the command tent."
He turned and walked away before Luna could say anything else.
Luna looked at Kieran, her heart torn between the warmth of what they'd just shared and the pain of hurting Magnus. "I should go after him."
"Later." Kieran squeezed her hand. "Duty first. Always."
They hurried back to the command tent, where controlled chaos had erupted. Thomas was coordinating with multiple teams simultaneously, his face grim.
"What's happening?" Luna asked.
"The government forces are preparing for an assault. They've got some kind of weapon systems set up at every perimeter point." Thomas pointed to a magical display showing enemy positions. "But that's not the worst part."
"What's the worst part?"
"We're detecting massive energy buildups at the portal site," Sage said, her face pale. "The portal's accelerating even faster. It might open in twelve hours instead of twenty-four."
Luna felt the ground drop out from under her. "Twelve hours?"
"Maybe less." Sage looked like she might be sick. "Whatever Vera's doing, she's found a way to speed up the process dramatically."
"Then we move now," Seraphina said, her black eyes fierce. "Break through the government perimeter, get to the portal site before it opens."
"That's exactly what they want us to do," Magnus said, finally rejoining the group. He carefully avoided looking at Luna or Kieran. "It's a trap. The moment we attack government forces; the corrupted agents activate and turn the assault into a massacre. Humans and supernatural dying together, all caught on whatever surveillance equipment they've got running."
"Creating maximum chaos and fear," Whisper added, their form flickering with agitation. "The perfect conditions for Void Walker feeding."
"So, we're damned if we attack and damned if we wait?" Dmitri asked.
Luna's mind raced through possibilities, trying to find a solution that didn't end in everyone dying. But before she could speak, every magical sensor in the tent suddenly lit up at once.
"What the hell?" Sage moved to examine the readings, her eyes widening. "There's an incoming magical communication. Massive power signature. It's..."
A figure materialized in the center of the command tent, translucent and shimmering with dark energy. Vera Shadow smiled at them with the kind of expression that promised pain.
"Hello, nephew," she said to Magnus. "Miss me?"
Magnus's hands clenched into fists, but he said nothing.
Vera's gaze swept across the assembled leaders before settling on Luna. "And hello to you, bridge-builder. You've been causing me quite a bit of trouble."
"Good," Luna said, keeping her voice steady despite the rage boiling in her chest. "That was the plan."
"Was it also part of your plan to sacrifice everyone you care about?" Vera's smile widened. "Because that's what's going to happen if you try to reach the portal. The government forces will activate, your alliance will be trapped between human weapons and Void Walker constructs, and everyone dies."
"Why are you telling us this?" Kieran asked.
"Because I'm offering an alternative." Vera's translucent form moved closer to Luna. "You, bridge-builder. You alone. Come to the portal site now, surrender yourself to me, and I'll call off the attack. Your precious alliance survives. The humans remain ignorant. Everyone gets to live another day."
"Everyone except Luna," Magnus said, his voice deadly quiet.
"Well, yes. Obviously, Luna dies. Or worse, depending on how cooperative she is." Vera shrugged like she was discussing the weather. "But one life for thousands? Seems like a fair trade."
"No." Kieran moved to stand beside Luna. "Absolutely not."
"I wasn't asking your permission, wolf." Vera's expression hardened. "But maybe you need additional motivation to make the right choice."
She waved her hand, and another figure materialized beside her. A woman in her late fifties, with features that looked disturbingly familiar. Dark hair streaked with gray, green eyes that were definitely the same shade as Luna's, and an expression of terror that made Luna's heart stop.
"Who is that?" Luna whispered.
"Your aunt," Vera said pleasantly. "Your mother's sister, who's been living quietly in Portland for the past decade. She never told you about the supernatural world because she was trying to protect you from it. Didn't work out well for her, I'm afraid."
Luna stared at the terrified woman, seeing the family resemblance she'd never known existed. "I have an aunt?"
"Had an aunt," Vera corrected. "Whether she remains alive depends entirely on your choice. You have twelve hours, bridge-builder. Show up at the portal site alone and unarmed, and both your aunt and your alliance survive. Refuse, and I'll kill her while you watch. Then I activate the corrupted government agents, and the portal opens anyway. Everyone dies."
The translucent figures vanished, leaving the command tent in shocked silence.
Luna couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. She had family. Living family, she'd never known about. And Vera had her.
"It's a trap," Magnus said immediately. "Even if you go, she'll kill your aunt and open the portal anyway."
"He's right," Seraphina agreed. "Vera has no reason to keep any promises."
But Luna was barely hearing them. She was staring at the spot where her aunt's terrified face had been, seeing the same green eyes she saw in the mirror every morning.
"Luna." Kieran's hand on her shoulder made her turn. "Look at me."
She met his storm-gray eyes, seeing fierce protectiveness there.
"We'll find another way," he said firmly. "We'll save your aunt and stop the portal. But you are not surrendering yourself to that psychopath."
"What if there is no other way?" Luna's voice came out smaller than she intended. "What if this is the only chance to save everyone?"
"Then we make a new chance," Magnus said, stepping up on her other side. His dark eyes held the same fierce determination as Kieran's. "Together. The three of us."
Luna looked between them, seeing the men she'd come to care about offering her their support even after everything. Even after the complicated feelings and impossible choices.
"Twelve hours," she said quietly. "We have twelve hours to come up with a plan that saves my aunt, stops the portal, and doesn't get everyone killed."
"Then we'd better get planning," Garrett said.
As the alliance leaders gathered around the tactical maps, Luna felt the weight of impossible choices pressing down on her shoulders. Her aunt's life versus thousands of others. Surrendering herself versus fighting together. Love versus duty.
And in twelve hours, she'd have to decide which mattered more.
The storm was coming. And Luna Blackthorne was standing right in its path.