62. Chapter 62
Maddox
We’re all gathered around the table in my dorm room, the surface already buried beneath half-crumpled intelligence reports. I’ve never let this many people into my space before.
It should prickle, but it doesn’t matter tonight. Not when Arwen is still missing.
“So we know this is a trap,” Holly’s boyfriend says from across the table. Sly. That’s his name. He leans forward, elbows on the wood, eyes tracking the markings I’ve made over the map of The Crumb’s outer districts.
“I’m betting on an ambush.” I force myself to keep my voice even as chaos rages inside me.
Atticus is on my left, rigid in a way I’ve never seen him before, hands clasped so tightly his knuckles have gone pale. Holly is standing, already dressed in her combat training gear. Brix, Cleo, Tabby—faces pulled tight, all of them running on the same thin wire of panic I am.
We’ve been at this for an hour. Longer, maybe. Strategy, routes, contingencies. My siblings. Their powers. Every variation of how this could go down.
We’re losing time.
Atticus drags a hand down his face. He looks miserable, fraying at the edges.
“It’s going to be dangerous,” I breathe. “I don’t know which of my siblings we’ll run into. Definitely Vex. Probably Teeth and Kael. Wicka, Amaya, Riven… who knows, maybe even Paris. We still don’t know whose side she’s on.”
My grip tightens against the edge of the chair. “Arwen will never forgive me if I let her friends go into this mess. She wouldn’t want you in danger.”
The tension in the room grows as multiple heads turn my way.
“It’s not Arwen’s choice,” Holly says, strapping another blade into place. Her tone doesn’t leave room for debate. “We’re going, and that’s final. Standing around arguing about it will only waste more time.”
I breathe out through my nose, forcing myself to stay steady.
I know from Arwen’s stories that these Wraths can hold their own in a fight. That doesn’t make this any less dangerous, but they’re determined and I will not waste another moment arguing.
My gaze drops to Cleo and Tabby.
“It’s definitely too dangerous for you to go,” I say. “If you’re recognized, they could take it out on your families, and I don’t think your abilities will help in a fight.”
Tabby’s shoulders sag, disappointment flashing across her face.
“We know,” Cleo says. Her voice is tight but controlled. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t help from here.”
Tabby reaches into her bag and starts pulling out vials, setting them on the table with careful precision. The glasses clink softly as she distributes them between us.
“Healing potions,” she adds. “I’ve been preparing them since she went missing.”
Cleo follows, already pulling out her phone. “And I can help hack into the security system. If you have a way for us to communicate, I can warn you of any hidden threats in real time.”
I study her. Everything is a risk right now.
“I won’t leave a trail,” she says, like she can read the hesitation in my face.
I pull out my phone without responding and send a message to one of my men for comm equipment. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. No blind spots.
Then I look up again.
“Get everything you need and meet me out front in twenty minutes,” I say. “If you’re not there, we leave without you.”
Nobody argues. Everyone ready to get Arwen home.
“I’m assembling a team that will fly with us. Another group will meet us on the ground in the Crumbs—Vex’s territory. My brother Duval and sister Valentine are our allies. They will approach from the North. We will attack from the South. Let’s get moving.”
Around the table, everyone is already shifting into motion. Packing. Strapping weapons. Checking gear.
I look down at the map one last time, fingers curling at the edge of the table.
We’re coming for you, Arwen.