The chaos of the battle rages on. I’m not sure how we ended up here, but I’m standing next to Atticus—my best friend, my partner in crime—facing down an army of enemies that seem like they’ll never end.

"You ready for this?" Atticus says, his voice calm despite the madness around us. He flashes me that familiar grin, the one that always makes my heart race a little faster.

"Born ready," I reply, trying to keep my composure. But my heart’s not listening.

We spring into action. My movements are instinctive now—years of working together have made us a seamless team. Atticus’s presence beside me is always a comfort, even in moments like this, when the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.

I dodge an incoming attack, my body moving in a blur. I hear Atticus’s voice behind me, guiding me with precision, as always. "Move left!" he calls, and I follow without thinking.

He’s always there—always got my back. In the heat of battle, I can’t help but steal a glance at him. His jaw clenches, eyes sharp, every movement calculated and decisive. But even amidst all the danger, he manages a smirk.

"Don’t think I’m saving you this time," he teases.

"I don’t need saving," I snap back, my pulse racing as I take down another enemy.

But despite the bravado in my voice, I can feel the weight of the situation. If we fail here, there’s no coming back. Our bond—one that’s always been rooted in trust and friendship—feels different now. The tension between us is undeniable. And in this moment, as we fight side by side, I realize something that I hadn’t fully admitted to myself before: I’m in love with him.

A blast hits near us, throwing me off balance. Atticus’s arm shoots out, catching me before I fall.

"Got you," he murmurs, his voice low, right next to my ear.