Chapter 54 The Decision
POV: Luna
I wait until everyone else is asleep.
Or at least pretending to sleep.
Then I slip out of the Great Hall and head toward the library. It's the only place I can think of that might be empty this late.
I'm wrong.
Nova is already there, sitting at one of the tables near the back. And beside her is Marcus, the quiet boy from our combat class.
"I knew you'd try to leave," Nova says as soon as she sees me. "That's why I asked Marcus to help."
"Help with what?"
Marcus pushes a piece of paper across the table. It's covered in diagrams and notes. Ward patterns.
"I've been studying them," he says quietly. "It's kind of a nervous habit. I like understanding how things work."
I look closer at the paper. He's mapped out the entire Academy's protective wards, noting their strength at different times of day.
"There's a weak spot near the east gate," Marcus points to a section of his diagram. "Between two and three in the morning, the wards cycle through a reset. For about five minutes, they're at half strength."
"You can get through there?" I ask.
"Maybe. If you're fast. And quiet."
I look at Nova. "You don't have to come with me. This is dangerous."
"I'm going tonight," I say firmly. "With or without help."
"Then with," Nova says immediately. "Obviously."
"This is insane," Marcus mutters. But then he adds, "But I'm in."
"Why would you risk this for me?"
Marcus shrugs. "You stood up for me when those fourth years were giving me trouble. Besides, someone needs to make sure you two don't get killed."
I feel a rush of gratitude for both of them.
"Okay. So we leave at two AM. Get through the east gate during the reset. Then what?"
"Then you need a way to actually reach the human world fast," a voice says from behind me.
I spin around.
Darius is leaning against one of the bookshelves, arms crossed.
"How long have you been listening?"
"Long enough." He pushes off from the shelf and walks toward us. "You'll never make it on foot. The forest is crawling with rogues. They'll pick you off before you get halfway."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"A transport spell. I know one."
Nova's eyes narrow. "Since when do you know transport spells?"
"Since my father insisted I learn advanced magic in case of emergencies." Darius looks directly at me. "I can get you close to the human world. Not all the way, but close enough."
"Why would you help me?"
The question hangs in the air between us.
Darius is quiet for a moment. Then he says, "Because if you die trying to save your human boyfriend, I'll never hear the end of it from my father. He wants you alive. For political reasons."
"Political reasons?"
"Eclipse wolves are valuable. Rare. My father would rather have you as an ally than an enemy." He pauses. "And honestly? I'm tired of playing whatever game he's trying to play with you. So I'm helping. Take it or leave it."
I don't trust Darius. Not completely.
But I also don't have a lot of options.
"Fine. You can help. But if you try anything—"
"I won't. You have my word."
"Your word doesn't mean much to me."
"Then I guess you'll just have to trust me anyway."
Before I can respond, another voice cuts through the library.
"I knew you'd try something like this."
Ryder steps out from between the shelves. He doesn't look angry. Just resigned.
"Are you going to stop me?" I ask.
"No." He walks toward us. "I'm coming with you."
"Ryder, you can't. If the faculty finds out—"
"They won't. Because I'll make sure we get back before anyone notices we're gone." He looks at the others. "All of us."
Nova grins. "So we're really doing this? Breaking out of the Academy to save Luna's human boyfriend?"
"Apparently," Marcus says, though he looks terrified.
"Then we need a solid plan." Ryder pulls up a chair. "Marcus, show me those ward patterns."
For the next hour, we plan.
Marcus explains the ward cycle in detail. The five-minute window between two and three AM where the east gate is weakest.
Darius describes the transport spell. It requires a anchor point in the destination, something tied to that location. I offer Miguel's charm bracelet.
Ryder maps out the safest route through the forest to reach the transport point. He also makes us promise that if we encounter rogues, we run. No heroics.
Nova takes notes, making sure we all know our roles.
"I'll create a distraction at the west gate," she says. "Draw any guards away from the east side."
"That's dangerous," I protest.
"So is everything else we're doing tonight." She gives me a determined look. "I've got this."
By the time we finish planning, it's past midnight.
We split up to avoid suspicion. Each of us is supposed to go back to our dorms, rest for an hour, then meet at the east gate at exactly 1:55 AM.
I try to sleep, but my mind won't stop racing.
Miguel is out there. In danger.
And in less than two hours, I'm going to try to save him.
Whether I succeed or not is another question entirely.
At 1:50 AM, I slip out of my dorm. The hallways are dark and silent.
I make my way to the east gate, my heart pounding.
Nova is already there, practically vibrating with nervous energy. Marcus arrives next, looking pale but determined.
Then Darius, moving with that quiet confidence he always has.
And finally, Ryder, carrying a small pack with supplies.
"Everyone ready?" he asks quietly.
We all nod.
"Good. Remember the plan. Nova, wait five minutes after we leave, then create your distraction. Marcus, you'll monitor the ward patterns and signal when it's time to move. Darius, have the transport spell ready. Luna and I will go through first."
"What could possibly go wrong?" Nova says with a nervous laugh.
I squeeze her hand. "Thank you. For this. For everything."
"Don't thank me yet. Thank me when we all get back alive."
Marcus pulls out a small device that glows faintly. Some kind of ward detector he made himself.
"Two minutes," he whispers.
We wait in tense silence.
Every second feels like an hour.
"One minute."
My mark is burning. Pulsing. Like it knows what I'm about to do.
"Thirty seconds."
I close my eyes and think of Miguel. Of his smile. His laugh. His stupid jokes that always made me groan.
"Now," Marcus hisses.
The wards shimmer and fade to half-strength. I can see the difference in the air, like looking through gauze instead of glass.
Ryder grabs my hand. "Let's go."
We run.
Through the weakened wards, into the forest beyond.
Behind us, I hear Nova's distraction start. Some kind of magical explosion at the west gate.
Then we're too far away to hear anything but our own footsteps and ragged breathing.
Darius catches up to us, already chanting the transport spell.
The charm bracelet in my hand grows hot.
"This is going to feel weird," he warns.
Then the world twists.
Colors blur. Sounds distort. My stomach lurches like I'm falling even though my feet are still on the ground.
And then, suddenly, we're somewhere else.
The forest is different here. Less manicured. Wilder.
Human territory.
"We're close," Darius gasps, looking drained from the spell. "Maybe a mile from the coordinates."
"Can you sense him?" Ryder asks me.
I close my eyes and reach for the dream-link.
It's there. Faint but present.
And it's pulling me north.
"This way."
We start running again, crashing through the underbrush.
I don't know if we're going to make it in time.
I don't know if Miguel is even still alive.
But I have to try.
Because leaving him to die alone is not an option.
Not now.
Not ever.