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I notice then the careful way he holds himself, the stiffness in his movements betraying injuries beyond the visible bruises.

"What did they do to you?" I ask quietly.

"Standard interrogation protocol." His tone is dismissive, pure Sentinel. “I’m fine.”

Before I can press further, footsteps approach—quick andpurposeful. I know who it is before I see him, something in my body recognizing his precense.

Vex appears in the chamber entrance, amber eyes immediately finding mine. He crosses the space in seconds, dropping to a crouch beside the sleeping platform.

"Finally rejoining us, Flutterby?" His attempt at casual banter doesn't hide the relief in his eyes.

"Miss me?" I counter.

"The patrols were getting boring without someone to rescue."

His hand hovers near mine, not quite touching, restraint visible in the tension of his shoulders. I bridge the gap, fingers brushing his briefly. The contact sends a warm current up my arm.

Trent observes this interaction with unreadable eyes.

"Perimeter secure?" he asks, shifting the focus.

Vex straightens, professional despite the lingering concern in his gaze. "For now. Unity search patterns indicate they're focusing on the southern territories."

"They don't know about this place?"

"The Old Refuge has been carefully protected," Vex explains to me. "It was a natural cave system even before the collapse. The sympathizer network expanded it, but kept it off all maps."

A new figure joins our conversation—an older woman with steel-gray hair and skin bearing the textured patterns of severe radiation adaptation. I recognize her as one of the extraction team leaders.

"Good, you're awake," she says, all business. "I'm Elle. We need to talk about what happened at the facility."

I swing my legs off the sleeping platform, testing my balance. Better, but still not right. Trent's hand automatically steadies my elbow.

"Lin betrayed us," I say. "He's working with Unity."

"Not just Lin," Elle clarifies. "His entire faction of the Evolved. They've made some kind of deal—access to Unity research in exchange for helping capture you and the other Haven children."

Cold anger replaces the lingering grogginess. "They sold us out for lab privileges?"

"They believe they're pursuing the next evolutionary step," Elle explains. "Lin's faction sees Unity's resources as necessary for their goals."

"And my mother's research?"

"Central to their plans." Elle gestures for us to follow her. "Come. There's something you need to see."

We navigate through the cave system, deeper into the mountain. Vex takes point automatically, Trent staying close beside me, ready to support if my strength falters. The complex is larger than I first thought—multiple natural chambers connected by both existing passages and carved tunnels.

Elle leads us to what appears to be a command center—equipment salvaged from various sources forming a surprisingly sophisticated operation. Maps cover one wall, marking Unity outposts, sympathizer safe houses, and known Splinter settlements.

"We've been tracking Unity's hunt for the Haven children for years," she explains, activating a central display. "But recent intelligence suggests something more concerning than just capture."

The display shows what appears to be genetic sequencing—complex patterns shifting and realigning.

"This is your genetic structure," she points. "Or rather, the portions Unity has managed to analyze from samples they collected."

I study the display, recognizing some patterns from Reid's explanations at Haven's Edge. "The adaptive nodes my mother designed."

"Yes. But look what happens when they introduce Lin's genetic patterns."