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Tears fill my eyes, unbidden. All the pain, the fear, and the stress culminates in this moment. I haven’t seen Annalise in what feels like forever and even then it was from a distance in the marketplace before things got worse in the Urr’ki city. And now, she’s pregnant. Very pregnant.

Her eyes meet mine—and the world narrows to just us. Hope swells in my chest, raw and aching. She smiles, one hand resting over her swollen belly, and for the first time in what feels like forever... I believe we might survive.

There is hope of a future, one I haven’t had even a moment to contemplate. My past weeks have been nothing but surviving, one crisis to the next. No chance to consider what comes next or what might be.

She represents all of that and more. I want to run to her. Wrap my arms around her, but the tension in the room is thick as smoke, stopping me. I’m caught between reunion and a rupturing of the fragile alliance.

“Z’leni,” he growls. “You brought him here?”

“It’s not what you think,” I say quickly. “He helped me, now he’s helping us.”

Mazabuta doesn’t answer. His gaze shifts between the two males. Z’leni cool and still; Ryatuv tense and coiled. The distrust radiates off the three of them like heat off the lava-soaked walls.

“You’re lucky you’re with her,” Mazabuta growls to Ryatuv. “Otherwise, I’d slit your throat.”

“The feeling’s mutual,” Ryatuv replies, stone-cold.

Z’leni snorts, but doesn’t add fuel. I glance at him, surprised.

“We found a tunnel,” I say, cutting through the tension. “A lava route Ryatuv knew about. It’s dangerous, but unguarded. You and Annalise can use it.”

“There’s no way out,” Mazabuta says, shaking his head. “We’ve tried everything. Every exit’s either collapsed or crawling with Maulavi. The Shaman’s tightened the noose. We’re trapped.”

“You’re not,” I say firmly. “We made it through. You can too.”

He’s shaking his head before I finish. “She’s pregnant. I’m not risking her.”

“I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think you could make it. Ryatuv, Z’leni, and I will draw attention in the city. If you go now, quickly, you can make it.”

Mazabuta’s jaw tightens. His fingers flex on the hilt of his blade. He doesn’t want to believe me, but Annalise does. Her hand finds his.

“I trust her,” she says, soft but steady. “If Elara says it’s safe enough, then we go.”

For a long moment, he doesn’t speak. Then he exhales, long and slow, and nods once.

“Alright,” he says. “But if anything happens?—”

“I know,” I say. “Nothing will. I promise.”

Mazabuta grumbles as he pulls Annalise gently toward the edge of the chamber where the stone wall still offers a bit of cover. He rummages through the few surviving supplies and ties them into a cloth bundle.

Annalise and I stare at each other while he works. I try to think of the right thing to say, but I’ve got nothing. Every idea I come up with sounds stupid or crass. I blink, shake my head, then shrug. Annalise seems to feel the same, but after a few moments she comes over and wraps her arms around me.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “For coming back.”

“You knew I escaped?” I ask.

“The Resistance knew, they told us,” she says. “Mazabuta had to take me into hiding to get away from the Maulavi. The Shaman is out of control.”

“Yeah,” I say, jaw tensing. “Well that’s about to come to an end.”

“It’s true then? The Zmaj are coming?” she asks.

“It is,” I say.

“Good!” she says, excitement in her voice. “Then you can come with us.”

“No, not yet,” I say. “We have one more mission to accomplish first.”