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For the next half an hour, Rose completed MARV’s safety checks while waiting for Luca to escort Harris down into the cave.

Finn and the rest of the Wolves worked efficiently, prepping the dive kit with a level of precision that only came from years of experience. The barbs she’d heard the men throw at each other on the surface had temporarily muted, replaced by a quiet intensity as they triple-checked their diving gear. Rose couldn’t help but be impressed. It was clear safety was their top priority, and that reassured her more than she cared to admit.

The sound of feet landing on the platform drew her attention, and she looked up to see Harris, his cheeks blotched pink from the descent. Despite the enormity of the dive ahead, his eyes were bright with excitement at the prospect of seeing his baby, the Io habitat, in real life.

As Luca unclipped him, Harris surveyed the cave, his eyes wide with wonder. “Incredible.” His voice echoed off the craggy walls. “I’ve seen photographs of this cave a thousand times, but to actually be here, in person... it’s surreal. ”

He turned to Rose, a grin spreading across his face. “We’re actually standing in the heart of the Dragon’s Breath.”

He stepped out of his harness and moved closer to the edge of the platform, peering into the waters below. “To think, my creation is down there, waiting for us.” He exhaled a slow, shaky breath. “The reality of actually diving to her... it’s hitting me now.” He took another deep breath, as if steeling himself. “But I’m ready. I’ve waited years for this moment, and I’m not going to let nerves stop me.”

“Fighting talk.” Luca clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit.”

“Okay, let’s get you into your tanks.” Finn’s voice pulled her attention away from Harris. He was at her side, his arms full of air tanks. He caught her eye and winked, a playful gesture that sent a flutter through her stomach.

Fifteen minutes later, Rose sat on the edge of the raft, her feet dangling in the icy water. Finn had strapped the tanks securely to her back. Her respirator hung loose against her chest. MARV circled the raft, its glowing eyes casting a sinister light through the darkness. The worms that had been wriggling in the water earlier seemed to have been scared off by MARV’s arrival. Thank God for small mercies.

“Put these on.” Finn handed her two lethal-looking dive knives and a slim holster. The blades glinted in the dim light, their edges razor-sharp.

“Two?”

“Dead divers don’t have backups.” He arched an eyebrow at her.

“Fair enough.” She strapped the holster around her hips and sheathed the knives. The weight of the blades was unfamiliar against her thighs. She felt a little too much like Lara Croft minus the hot pants.

“It’s a good look.” A hint of amusement played at the corner of Finn’s mouth. “Here.” He handed her a small comma shaped button. “We’ll be using full-face dive masks with integrated comms, but this will enable comms with the surface when we’re in the habitat. This goes just inside your ear.” He demonstrated, tucking the comma just inside the curve of his ear.

Okay. Rose attempted to fit the device in her own ear. The metal was cold, and the shape was unwieldy. No matter how she twisted and turned it, she couldn’t seem to get it to sit comfortably. Maybe her ears were the wrong shape?—

“Let me.” Warm fingers skimmed hers and removed the comms piece from the uncomfortable position she’d wedged it in.

“Just gonna move your hair.” His breath was warm against her chilled cheek as he tucked a stray lock behind her ear with considerate fingers. God. He was so close again . The expanse of his chest collided with her, derailing any coherent thoughts. Corded muscle flexed in his arm.

Dear God.

Cool metal pressed against her skin once more, followed by a blast of static that made her jump. Rose held her breath, waiting for Finn to step away, but he lingered for a moment longer, his fingers brushing against the sensitive skin behind her ear.

“Comfortable?”

She touched her ear. “Yes. Thanks.”

Finally, he stepped away, his face cracking into a smile. “You’re good to go.”

She reached for her ear, running her fingers over the smooth surface of the comms unit. She could barely feel it, the metal already warmed by her skin. “Thank you.”

“It’s touch sensitive. If the chat gets too much and you need some time with your own thoughts, just touch it like this.” He took hold of her hand and pressed her fingertips to the metal.

Rose swallowed. She’d never had to remember to breathe before. But right now, it was a conscious effort.

“Same if you want to bring comms back online.” He pressed her fingers to the metal once more and the soft noise of the open comms line buzzed briefly in her ear.

As he released her tingling fingers, Rose curled them against her palm, trying to ignore the way her skin seemed to burn where he had touched her. Her body’s reaction to this man was crazy.

Forcing herself to focus, she turned her attention away from Finn and toward the other Wolves. Liev, Duke, and Ethan were already in the water, their red helmets bobbing like weird beetles on the surface. With soft splashes, Luca and Harris joined them, leaving just her and Finn on the platform.

Finn jerked his head toward the water, his expression serious. “This is not a test. If you’re unhappy about anything, you let me know straight away.”

“I will.” She jetted air through her clenched teeth. In her teens, she had spent countless hours diving with her dad. It was a skill that had always come naturally to her and had served her well in her current position. She could do this.

“Keep your breathing nice and calm. Disturbance from the air bubbles can dislodge sediment in tunnel roofs and walls, triggering a landslip. Best-case scenario would be a visibility blackout. Worst case, the passage gets blocked, or we get crushed to death.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “And we don’t want that.”

“Just a walk in the park.” She was proud that her voice didn’t wobble, unlike her insides right now.

Finn reached out and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Cave diving is dangerous. There are risks involved, and things can go wrong.” He paused, letting his words sink in for a moment. “But that’s why we take every precaution and follow every safety protocol. We’re prepared for the worst-case scenarios, and we know how to handle them if they arise.” He stepped back, lifting his hand from her shoulder. “You have any problems at all, you let me know immediately. Down there is no place to pretend to be okay. Agreed?”

“Agreed.”

“Okay, enough doom talk. Let’s do this. Let’s go get all the beakers.”

“Beakers?”

He shrugged and his face cracked into a smile that would light a thousand caves. “Ask Luca.” He adjusted his face plate and respirator. “Set to get wet.” With a smooth motion, he tumbled into the water, disappearing beneath the surface for a moment before surfacing to face her with a gloved thumbs up.

“Rose.” His voice was calm in her ear. “When you’re ready.”

“Okay.” Rose lifted her mask into position, the rubber seal clammy against her skin.

Finn floated, patiently waiting for her.

“Set to get wet,” she murmured, echoing his earlier words. And then, before she could second-guess herself, she pushed off the platform and plunged in.

The cold hit her like a solid wall, stealing the air from her lungs. Frigid water engulfed her, turning her limbs sluggish. She forced herself to take slow breaths, waiting for her heart rate to ease and her breathing to even out, knowing hyperventilation could lead to blackouts or worse.

“Rose?” Finn’s voice crackled in her ear, a lifeline in the darkness. “You good?”

“Uh huh.” Her teeth clicked together in a fierce rattle as the cold sank into her bones, making her sinuses ache.

“Rose. Talk to me.” Strong hands gripped her wrists. Finn. A lifeline in the darkness.

Plastic smelling air whistled into her lungs. “I’m good. Thanks.”

Finn’s eyes crinkled upward as he smiled. “That’s what I like to hear.” He made the universal sign for ‘okay’. “Ethan. This is Finn. We are green.”

“Copy that, Finn,” Ethan answered. “Luca? Report?”

“Also, oscar fucking mike. Let’s get this shit done, over,” Luca replied.

“Copy that. Proceeding as planned. Stay alert.” With a final click, Ethan’s comms fell silent.

Flashlights bobbed on the edges of Rose’s vision, the Wolves fanning out in a carefully choreographed formation and between them, the powerful slide of MARV’s light beams. Rose clicked on the flashlight strapped to her wrist, the beam blazing through the water. She angled it between her feet.

Somewhere down there, silent and waiting, was the Io habitat.

Thea, here I come.