Trust broken in the heat of combat cuts deeper than any blade.
Celeste.
My friend. My advisor. My diplomatic coordinator who'd helped navigate impossible political situations.
She stood at the head of the group breaching toward the administrative building. Moving with military precision that proved she'd been hiding her true capabilities all along.
Just like Nadia. Just like Adrian. Just like everyone else who'd been working against us while wearing masks of loyalty.
"Celeste?" My voice came out broken. Disbelieving.
She turned. Saw me. Something flickered across her face. Regret maybe. Or just acknowledgment that the deception was finally revealed.
"I'm sorry, Elara," she said. Not shouting despite the battle noise around us. Somehow her voice carried clearly. "But this is necessary."
"Necessary? You've been sabotaging us from the beginning?"
"Not sabotaging. Guiding. Ensuring events unfolded toward inevitable conclusions."
