STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview

STARLIGHT UNBOUND

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll see what I can do, but getting a secure line into their network without tipping them off? That’s gonna be a nightmare.”

Lyra ’s voice was firm, unwavering. “Then start now.”

They weren’t reacting anymore—they were planning their next move.

Lucien took a deep breath, his eyes flicking toward the comm device. The Order’s voice still echoed in his ears, but beneath the fear, there was something else.

Hope.

Faint, but there.

***

The safehouse had grown stifling. The broadcast, the Celestial Order’s response, and the endless tension in the air made the small basement feel like it was closing in on him.

He scanned the room, watching Harun fiddling with his comm device, his usual easy grin replaced by a furrowed brow. Corin sat hunched over the maps, his fingers tracing routes with precision, muttering calculations under his breath.

And then there was Lyra.

She stood near the far corner, shoulders wound like coiled steel. She hadn't spoken in a while, her gaze locked on the ground, but Lucien could feel the energy radiating off her—raw, untamed, barely held in check.

She looked up and saw Lucien. She jerked her head toward the door. “Come with me.”

Lucien didn ’t hesitate. He rose from his seat, ignoring the dull ache in his legs, and followed her without a word.

The stairs groaned beneath their weight, the narrow passage illuminated by emergency lights. Lyra moved ahead of him with the quiet grace she always carried, her boots scuffing softly against the steps.

Lucien's shoulder throbbed, a sharp reminder of their narrow escape from the relay. Every movement sent a dull pulse through his body, but he pushed it aside.

At the top of the stairs, Lyra pushed open the thick metal door, and the cool night air hit them like a slap.

Lucien blinked, stepping outside as the door groaned shut behind him. The rooftop stretched out before them, an oasis of quiet above the chaos below.

Lyra moved to the edge, resting her hands on the rusted railing as she stared

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