Page 95 of Forged in Fire

“Depends on the complexity. Could be minutes, could be hours.” I study the chamber layout, marking passages and defensive positions out of habit. “But once it reaches critical mass…”

I don’t finish the sentence. We both understand the implications.

She’s already moving toward the sound of voices. I match her pace. Move with her instead of ahead of her.

Trust her abilities instead of trying to compensate for imagined weaknesses.

The chanting grows louder, more urgent. Time’s running out.

“Viktor,” I whisper into my comm. “How long can you maintain the diversion?”

“As long as you need,” comes the immediate response. “But Caleb’s right—move fast. We can’t hold their attention indefinitely.”

“Copy that,” I respond.

I glance at Iris and realize that not only are we on the same team, but overhead, there are others. The distant sound of Viktor’s team engaging Syndicate forces echoes down from above. We’re not alone in this. Even on this impossible mission, we have allies willing to put themselves at risk.

I’ve never been part of a team before.

I think I like it.

Chapter 29

Iris

The cave walls pulse with veins of blue-white light. Ancient. Beautiful. Wrong. Every instinct I have screams at me to run from whatever lies sleeping in the depths below.

But Kieran’s down there.

“Visual on the ritual chamber,” I whisper into my comm, crouched beside Riven at the cave mouth. “Multiple heat signatures. They’ve started the ceremony.”

Viktor’s voice crackles through static. “Elena, status from overwatch?”

“Scanning now.” Elena’s reply is tight with focus. Even from her position above, she can feel the power building down here. Her Rossewyn blood makes her sensitive to this kind of magic. “Wait—movement from the east. Armed vehicles approaching fast.”

My dragon senses prick with warning. “That’s not reinforcements.”

“No,” Riven agrees grimly. “Wrong approach pattern. Someone else knows about this place.”

Elena’s sharp intake of breath carries across the comm. “I just got a look at their command vehicle. Fuck. I know that face. That’s Malakai Steele. He’s here.”

“Are you certain?” Riven asks.

“Of course I’m certain,” she snaps. “That bastard had me tied up for hours. Nearly fucking killed me. Do you think I’d forget?”

Riven has the good sense to remain silent.

“Circle of Fire,” Viktor’s voice hardens with recognition. “This just became a three-way fight.”

The chanting from below grows louder, the pitch becoming almost frantic. Ancient words in a language that makes my shadows surge without permission.

They’re accelerating the ritual.

“We move now,” I tell Riven. “Before this gets worse.”

But explosions from the eastern passages cut off any response.

Gunfire erupts through the chamber complex. Shouts in multiple languages, the crack of supernatural abilities meeting stone as dragon fire bursts through the air. The Circle of Fire isn’t here for subtle infiltration—they’re making a statement.