The cabin we reached was hidden beneath thick vines, abandoned for years. Dust hung in the air, but the silence was comforting. For the first time tonight, I allowed myself to breathe.
Adrian slumped against a wall, wincing as he pressed a cloth to his wound. Lucien checked the perimeter, every sense alert.
"Here, sit," Adrian said, finally looking at me. "You need to rest."
I shook my head. "We need a plan."
He frowned. "Resting is part of planning."
Lucien snorted. "She's right. They'll regroup. We can't just hide. We need to move carefully, anticipate them."
I pulled the small map from my pocket. Trembling fingers traced escape routes, possible exits, and danger zones. "If we go here," I said, pointing, "we cut off their pursuit, but we risk exposing ourselves to the main patrol."
Adrian leaned closer, whispering, "I'll cover the rear. You handle the front with Lucien. Timing has to be perfect."
I nodded, determination settling in my chest. Fear was still there, but so was resolve.
Lucien studied me for a long moment. "You're different from others," he said finally. "Most would have panicked. You… think, plan, fight. That will matter."
I swallowed hard. "I can't do this alone."
"You won't," Adrian said, voice low but firm. "Not while I'm here. And Lucien… he has skills we can't ignore. For now, trust him."
Trust. A word I hated, yet couldn't avoid. Adrian risked himself for me tonight. Lucien saved me. Both dangerous, both unpredictable.
I leaned back against the wall, finally letting the tension fade for a moment. "Tell me… everything you know about my father. About why this is happening."
Lucien sighed. "It's complicated. Your father… he was smart, dangerous, and reckless. His debts weren't just money they were promises, secrets, alliances. And some of those promises… involved people who would kill to collect."
Adrian's gaze hardened. "That's why we need a plan. Not just to survive, but to strike back. To make sure they can't touch you or anyone else you care about."
I met his eyes. For the first time, I didn't feel like a pawn. I felt like a player.
And that, I realized, was dangerous for me, for Adrian, and for everyone who thought they could control my life.