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I wondered what other secret intelligence Tivek possessed as we slipped inside, and the door sealed behind us with ominous finality. Instead of the marsh's eerie quiet, the complex resonated with the sounds of activity. Heavy footfalls on metal pounded overhead, machinery hummed in the distance, and unintelligible guttural voices echoed through unseen corridors.

Tivek suddenly motioned for me to turn as he flattened himself against the wall. I followed suit, pressing my chest against the cool surface and willing my racing heart to quiet. We became nearly invisible as we faced the walls and our suits let us melt into the background.

A shadow fell across the corridor ahead. The floor vibrated with each thunderous step as a Kronock guard approached. It was at least eight feet tall, its scaled body rippling with muscle beneath segmented armor. The reptilian features were even more nightmarish up close: vertical pupils in yellow eyes, a long lipless snout revealing rows of needle-sharp teeth, nostrils that flared with each rasping breath, and an optical implant bolted over one eye that flashed red.

I closed my eyes for a moment, focusing on staying conscious. Not this time. I would not faint. I would not fail Tivek or my friends.

When I opened my eyes again, the Kronock was almost upon us, its head swiveling as if scenting the air. I held my breath, my fingers curling into fists as I prepared to fight.

Chapter

Thirteen

Tivek

Pressed against the cold metal wall, I held my breath as the Kronock guard lumbered past. Even with our environmental suits rendering us nearly invisible, I felt exposed and vulnerable in a way I rarely experienced during my Shadow operations. The reptilian's massive body radiated heat as it passed, close enough that I could smell the musky, sulfurous odor emanating from its scales.

This was different from my typical missions. As a Shadow, I always operated alone. I risked only myself and answered only for my own mistakes. But now Morgan stood beside me, her life entangled with mine, and the weight of that responsibility pressed down on me and made it hard to breathe.

The Kronock’s bionic implant flashed crimson as it scanned the corridor, and his thick, muscular tail dragged behind it, sweeping across the floor with a sound like sandpaper on metal.

Just as the creature passed us, Morgan inhaled quickly. It was the smallest of sounds, but in the quiet corridor, it might as well have been a shout.

The Kronock stopped.

My fingers tightened on the blaster hidden between my leg and the wall, ready to fire if the creature turned toward us. The shot would give away our position, but if it meant keeping Morgan alive, I wouldn't hesitate.

A guttural voice bellowed from somewhere above, angry and insistent. The Kronock near us grunted in response, then resumed its patrol, heavy footfalls receding down the corridor.

Only when I could no longer hear its steps did I release the breath I'd been holding, turning to find Morgan wide-eyed with terror, silent tears tracking down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, so softly I barely caught the words. "I almost got us killed."

I gripped her shoulders gently, leaning close to ensure she could hear my whispered response. "You have nothing to apologize for. I was terrified too."

Surprise flickered across her face.

"Just because I'm a spy doesn't mean I don't feel fear every time I'm on a mission," I admitted. "The difference is in how we manage it."

Since the corridor was no empty, I showed her the Drexian battle breathing technique we were taught early in Shadow training—deep inhalation, holding for three beats, then slow exhalation, repeating until the heart rate stabilized.

She followed my lead, her breathing gradually steadying. "If I'm being honest," she whispered with a weak smile, "I preferred studying the schematic of this building more than being inside it."

"But you did study it," I replied, "which means you know where they might be holding Sasha and Deklyn."

She nodded eagerly, pointing downward. “The dungeons.”

"Heads down," I instructed, taking her hand in mine. "Since I can't see you easily, I don't want to lose sight of you."

The smile she gave me made my heart squeeze painfully in my chest. I fought to keep my expression neutral, to not reveal how deeply her presence affected me.

We moved with deliberate slowness down a long steel ramp, each step carefully placed to avoid creating noise. I kept my head lowered, both to minimize my visible profile and to avoid seeing the Kronock moving through the facility. Shadow training emphasized focused awareness. I had to know my surroundings without becoming overwhelmed by them.

Ramp after ramp, we descended deeper into the ground. I could sense the change in air pressure, the subtle drop in temperature that accompanied subterranean chambers. Just another level or so, and we'd reach the cells. That is, if the intel was accurate.

A scream shattered the relative quiet and made me stiffen. It was high-pitched, unmistakably human, and filled with such pain that it made my blood run cold. But it wasn’t coming from below us. It was coming from above.

Morgan's hand jerked in mine, her fingers digging into my palm. I knew without asking that she recognized the voice. Ariana.