The sun was just starting to rise over the horizon when they met again at an old storage shed on the edge of town—a place Jace knew they could hide, at least temporarily.
It smelled of metal and dust inside the shed, but it was solid. Safe. Temporarily.
Lena sat on an overturned crate, still struggling to regain her breath. Clara walked back and forth, her arms folded tightly over her chest. Jace stood at the door, observing, every muscle tense and poised.
"I cannot believe this is occurring," Clara muttered, her voice trembling with anger. "First we barely fix everything between us—and now this? Who are these individuals?"
"We'll find out soon enough," Jace said quietly. "And we'll stop them."
Lena gazed up at him, saw the cutting edge in his gaze—the portion of him that battled, that protected without hesitation. And something inside her answered back—not fear, not doubt—but a wild, burning respect.
She stood and crossed the room, moving to him.
"You don't have to do this alone," she murmured, placing a hand on his chest where his heart beat firm and steady.
Jace looked down at her, the tension in his body softening somewhat under her touch. "I know. But I'm scared for you."
"I'm scared for you too," Lena whispered. "But we're stronger together."
For a moment, the weight of it all—the fear, the exhaustion, the unknowns—pressed down on them. And then Jace leaned in, his forehead grazing hers lightly, his arms circling her waist as if anchoring himself.
Their breaths mingled in the still air. Lena's eyes drifted shut as she let herself feel it all: the chaos, the fear, the love raging like wildfire between them.
He kissed her slowly—deeply, passionately—as if he were pouring all his promises into that one touch. She kissed him back with equal passion, clutching his jacket tight, refusing to let the world sweep this moment out of their reach.
Behind them, Clara noisily cleared her throat.
"Uh, I'm still here," she said, half teasing, half awkward.
Lena pulled back, cheeks flushing, but Jace only smirked slightly.
"Sorry," he said, though he didn't sound sorry at all.
The moment was broken—but the strength it gave them lingered.
Jace pulled out a folded map from his pocket, laying it on a nearby crate. "We need to figure out who sent him—and why."
Clara leaned over the map, her forehead creased. "You think they'll come after us again?"
"They will," Jace said grimly. "And next time, they won't be sending just one."
Lena's hands clenched into fists. "Then we need to be ready."
Jace's gaze met hers, proud and resolute. "We will be."
The wind outside intensified, rattling the old metal shed walls like a warning.
But inwardly, a new fire had been ignited—a fire that no enemy could extinguish.
Together, they would discover the truth.
Together, they would fight.
And together. they would conquer.
No matter the cost.
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