The night air was cold, the kind of chill that carried warnings. The moon above Veridium was swollen and red, reflecting the storm about to break loose.
Celeste tightened her cloak and looked toward Isadora, who stood near the forest edge with Marissa, Adele, and Alaric. "We all know what's at stake," she said softly. "If we fail, Lucien will be lost forever."
Isadora nodded. Her face was pale but firm. "We won't fail. We've come too far to stop now." Her heart, however, was pounding wildly. She could still see Lucien's face in her mind—the way he used to look at her and smile before Sephrina's magic clouded him. I have to bring him back, she told herself.
Adele's eyes glowed faintly in the dark. "Everyone remembers their part?"
Marissa raised her hand. "Alaric's the distraction. We get inside. I'll stay behind with the communication orb in case things go wrong."
Adele gave her a nod. "Good. Stay hidden, and if you sense danger—send the signal."
