Felicity opened her mouth to protest, but the look in Victor's red eyes stopped her. It wasn't just protectiveness; there was something else there. A recognition, perhaps, of the danger she couldn't yet understand.
"Who are they?" she asked instead.
Victor exchanged a glance with Voss. "The locals," he said finally. "And from what Exile just reported, they're led by a female named Maddie, who isn't super happy about you being here."
"What? Why?" Felicity's hand went to her belly. "What does that mean?"
It was Damien who answered, his voice quiet but carrying an edge that made her shiver. "It means she doesn't like sharing attention or resources."
The babies kicked, as if sensing her sudden fear. Felicity pressed her hand against the movement, taking a deep breath. "So what do we do?"
"We talk to them," Victor said, his tone making it clear this was non-negotiable. "From a position of strength. You stay inside with Lucan and Ivan and Dimitri."
