Page 84 of Broken Sentinel

By the time I reach the cave entrance, night has fully fallen. I pause, checking for signs of pursuit before slipping inside. The cave extends into the hillside, branching into multiple chambers. I follow the path we'd briefly surveyed earlier.

"Zara?" Trent's voice comes from deeper inside.

"It's me," I confirm, moving toward the sound.

I find them in a small chamber illuminated by a single light stick. Both rise immediately, relief evident in their postures.

"Transmission?" I ask.

"Complete," Trent confirms. "Signal sent to all sympathizer networks near the targeted arcologies."

"Unity forces?"

"Still searching the western quadrant," Vex reports. "Your diversion worked perfectly."

The tension that's held me together during the missionsuddenly releases, leaving exhaustion in its wake. I sink onto a rock formation, the events of the day catching up all at once.

"You did well, Flutterby," Vex says, his normally intense expression softened with something like pride.

"We all did," I correct, including Trent with a glance.

For once, the two men don't bristle at being grouped together. Instead, a tentative truce seems to have formed—forged in the heat of shared purpose and concern for a common priority.

Me.

The realization would be amusing if I weren't so tired. I lean back against the cool cave wall, closing my eyes briefly.

"Rest," Trent says quietly. "We'll take watch."

As I drift toward sleep, I'm vaguely aware of them positioning themselves protectively nearby—Trent near the chamber entrance, Vex closer to me. My last conscious thought is that despite everything, despite the danger and uncertainty, I feel strangely, unexpectedly safe between these two very different men.

The warning is sent. The other Haven children have a chance. For now, that's enough.

CHAPTER 17

I wake to hushed voices.

"—definitely hunting patterns," Vex says. "Not random patrols."

"Coordinated search grid," Trent agrees. "They've committed significant resources."

"We need to move before they expand the perimeter."

I sit up, stretching muscles stiff from sleeping on hard stone. "How long was I out?"

Both men turn. Trent's expression softens momentarily at the sight of me.

"Four hours," he says. "You needed it."

Shit.

"Status update?" I ask, fully alert now.

Vex moves to the cave entrance. "Unity forces have established a containment zone. They're sweeping outward from the relay station in concentric circles."

"How far does the perimeter extend?"

"Three kilometers and expanding," Trent reports. "Our window for clean extraction is closing."

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