Chapter 62: Chapter 62

Luci

I had never been someone who liked to be kept waiting.

That was the first thing that settled in my chest after she said it. Not fear, not uncertainty. Just irritation from knowing something was moving out there while we stood here pretending we had time to prepare.

We didn’t.

I stepped out of the room not long after, leaving Yulia inside even though she gave me a look. She didn’t argue this time, but that didn’t mean she agreed. It just meant she was thinking, and that could be just as dangerous.

Rhys was already outside, like he had been waiting for me.

“They felt it too,” he said before I could speak.

Of course they did.

My eyes went to the forest in the distance. It looked the same as always. Quiet. Still.

That didn’t mean anything anymore.

“How many?” I asked.

“Scouts reported movement along the outer lines,” he said. “They’re not crossing into our territory, but they’re close enough.”

Watching.

Waiting.

Just like she said.

I let out a breath. “They’re testing distance.”

Rhys nodded. “That’s what it looks like.”

That didn’t sit right with me. Creatures like that didn’t hesitate without a reason.

If they're not attacking, it's not because they can't.

It's because they're choosing not to.

Which means they're waiting for something.

Someone.

Yulia felt them again, I said.

"I figured," Rhys said.

"The timing makes sense," he said.

My jaw clenched a little tighter.

"It's not just awareness anymore," I said.

"It's connection," I said.

He was paying attention to this.

"How strong?" he asked.

"Strong enough for her to know where they were without seeing them," I said.

Rhys was quiet for a moment, thinking.

"That's not good," he said.

"No," I said.

"It isn't," I said.

Because if whatever is inside her isn't just reacting to the presence of the others, it's because it's able to respond.

And I don't like what this means.

"What's the plan?" Rhys said.

I didn't look away.

My eyes stayed fixed on the tree line, as if I could will whatever was hiding back into the open.

"They only move if something activates them," I said finally.

"Or if they're waiting for the right moment," Rhys said.

"Thing," I said.

Not quite, but close enough.

"If they're connected to her, they'll move if she does," I said.

Rhys breathed.

"So we keep Yulia away from them " he said.

I shook my head a little.

"That will not work " I said.

Rhys frowned.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Because they are already here " I said.

"Distance does not matter if they can feel Yulia " I said.

If Yulia can feel them.

That connection goes both ways.

That is the part I do not like.

Rhys does not argue.

He knows it too.

"So what " he asked.

I finally looked at him.

"We do not wait for them to make the move " I said.

His expression changed a little.

"You are serious " he said.

"Yes " I said.

"That is risky " he said.

"So is standing here doing nothing " I said.

There was a pause.

Rhys ran a hand through his hair, breathed.

"If we go into the forest we do not know what we are getting into " he said.

"We already do not know " I replied.

"At this way we can control when it happens " I said.

That is the difference.

Control.

The idea of control.

Before he could say anything, footsteps came from behind us.

I did not need to turn to know who it was.

Yulia.

Course Yulia did not stay inside.

"You were going to leave without telling me " she said.

I turned then my expression already set.

"You were supposed to rest" I said.

"I told you I wasnt going to sit" she replied.

Rhys looked at us then took a step back like he did not want to be in the middle of it.

That is smart.

"You felt them again" I said.

It was not a question.

"Yes" she said.

"They are closer" she added.

That made something in my chest get a tighter.

"How close?" I asked.

She hesitated for half a second like she was trying to figure it out.

"Close enough that it does not feel like distance anymore" she said.

That is worse than I thought.

Rhys muttered something under his breath.

"They are closing in" he said.

"No" Yulia replied quietly.

"They aren’t moving randomly" she said.

"They’re adjusting" she continued.

"As if they’re re-positioning" she said.

That wasn’t any better.

"That confirms it" I said.

"They aren’t just moving randomly.”

"That confirms it " I said.

"They are not just reacting " I said.

"They are thinking " I said.

Rhys frowned.

"Creatures like that are not supposed to think " he said.

"Then whatever they are it is not what we thought " I replied.

There was a silence again heavier this time.

Yulia stepped closer her eyes fixed on the forest.

"If we wait they will make the move " she said.

I did not miss the way her hand got a little tighter at her side.

It is not fear.

It is anticipation.

"You are not coming " I said immediately.

Her head turned toward me.

"That is not your decision " she said.

"It is when it puts you in danger " I replied.

"It already does " she said.

That stopped me for a second.

Not because she is wrong.

Because she knows it.

"If they are connected to me then keeping me away does not fix anything " she continued.

"It just delays it" she said.

"And walking into it fixes it?" I asked.

"It gives us answers" she said.

I held her gaze.

Steady, unmoving.

"No" I said.

Her expression didn’t change.

“You are not going to stop me,” she said.

I moved closer, closing the distance between us.

“Try me,” I said.

We were frozen, each one of us, for a moment.

Rhys breathed out behind us.

“We do not have time for this,” he said.

He is right.

That does not mean I have to like the way this is going.

I looked back at the forest, at the warriors beginning to assemble in the distance.

Word had already spread faster than I thought.

It always does.

“We move,” I said finally.

Rhys straightened a little.

“How many?” he asked.

“Not a force,” I replied.

“A group,” I said.

“Fast,” I said.

“Controlled,” I said.

“And Yulia?” he asked, looking at Yulia.

I didn’t say anything away.

Because I already knew what I was going to say.

I knew I was not going to like it.

“Yulia stays close to me,” I said finally.

Yulia didn’t argue.

That is how I knew she had already decided she was coming, one way or another.

At least this way, I could keep her close, to me.

“Then we do not waste time,” Rhys said.

I nodded once.

Because whatever was out there.

Is not waiting anymore.

Neither are we.