Elira's POV

My fingers tightened around the grip instinctively.

“Drop your weapons.” Silence followed his command. Not because I was hesitating—but because I was counting. Distance. Echo. Breathing. The way his voice traveled. He wasn’t close. He was elevated. Watching.

“You think I’d be stupid enough to come in unarmed?” I asked quietly.

“I think you’re willing to do anything to save him.”

He was right. And I hated that he was. My jaw tightened as I sucked on my lips, every part of my brain heightened, counting, watching.

“We don't have the time, Elira.”

I ran my teeth over my lips before my hand moved to my holster and...