Page 202 of BounBound By Scars

“Four unknowns outside the main gate. Static formation. Not breaching. They’re… requesting an audience.”

I froze. “With who?”

There was a pause.

“With Amelia.”

Lia sat bolt upright beside me. “What?”

I looked at her, my stomach dropping. “They asked for you.”

Her eyes were wide now. “Who the hell—who even knows I’m here?”

I was already moving, grabbing my hoodie and passing her her shoes. “Let’s go.”

Mobilization Bay was already in chaos by the time we got there. Every member of the team was gathered, weapons slung, eyes sharp. Tactical gear only half-done like they’d all jumped out of bed mid-nightmare.

Leora wasn’t here, considering she was about ready to pop.

Logan stood near Kaylan, absently gathering his long, dirty-blond hair and tying it into a loose bun as he started to pace. Zarek hovered just behind him, all of them calm, collected.

Sebastian and Delara were in their own little formation.

Zane and Ronan whispering to each other.

I moved to the main interface terminal, the front gate cam now loaded. I pulled up the feed.

Four silhouettes stood at the perimeter—unmoving, heads slightly bowed, arms at their sides.

Unarmed. Fully masked.

But something about their stillness was wrong.

Too controlled. Too deliberate. Too… familiar.

I handed the screen to Amelia. “Go ahead.”

She took the tablet.

“This is Amelia,” she said clearly.

The response was immediate.

One deep voice.

Gravelly. Cold.

“Fireflies.”

Lia froze.

The blood drained from her face in a matter of seconds. Her fingers trembled, her jaw slackening as if the word had knocked the wind out of her.

She swallowed. Blinked.

Then turned to Zane.

“Open the gate.”

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