Rivera – POV
Silence wrapped the basement like a shroud. Heavy. Watching.
"I will protect you," Mars said quietly.
I hated this—having to depend on someone else. I never relied on others. Never trusted anyone enough to let them hold my life in their hands.
"That's my job," Asher added, his voice sharp.
Mars turned to him with a cold stare, but Asher didn't flinch. He held his ground.
"You two need to focus on working together against my step-siblings," I cut in, annoyed. "Not each other. And definitely not me."
They both looked at me, finally nodding. The tension between them was palpable—something hot and strange simmered in the air, making my skin prickle.
I looked away. "Let's talk strategy," I said, unrolling the blueprint of the forest terrain Ruma had drawn. I outlined the plan—take cover, observe, assess. My step-siblings wouldn't come at me one-on-one. They'd team up to kill me. Hiding was the only smart move for Day One.
"Can you mask your energy?" Mars asked.
