Naomi’s Pov

The railyard felt like it was breathing.

Not loudly not in a way you notice right away.

More like the quiet rise and fall of something waiting, patient and dangerous.

Cassian stood inches in front of me, one hand hovering just behind his back as he whispered the count.

“One…”

His voice barely stirred the air.

“Two…”

His breath steadied, even though mine didn’t.

He raised his hand for “three..”

A faint scrape of gravel behind me.

I turned with nothing but instinct

A hand clamped over my mouth.

Another hooked around my waist.

A sharp tug no sound, no warning

And the ground slipped under my feet....