Keira and her team set out under the cover of night.

Standing on the deck, Keira stared ahead. The night sea was an endless stretch of pitch black, an abyss with no bottom in sight.

Lewis stood behind her and asked, "You scared?"

"Of what?" Keira shot back.

This dark, empty sea was just like the life she'd lived in the shadows—nothing new or frightening about it.

Lewis's tone remained calm. "It's about a four-hour trip to the Country A border. No signal out here, just satellite phones. I just got word that Professor Barry Brandt's already en route. We shouldn't run into any trouble. If everything goes smoothly, we'll pick him up and head straight back home."

Keira nodded, then asked, "And if it doesn't go smoothly?"

"Then we move to Plan B. Don't worry—we're getting him back, one way or another," Lewis said with the kind of steady confidence that put Keira at ease.

She didn't know much about Lewis's connections abroad, but hearing him speak so assuredly made her nod again. "You know people in Country A?"

He nodded. "I know a few."

He then reached out and gave her a reassuring pat on the head. "Either way, no need to stress tonight."

Keira nodded once more.

"Teehee…"

A teasing laugh interrupted their conversation. Both of them turned to see Erin leaning casually against the ship's railing, still snacking on pistachios. Noticing their attention, she grinned. "Go on, don't mind me. Watching you two lovebirds is way more entertaining than I thought. Even someone like Mr. Horton knows how to tell little white lies, huh?"

Keira frowned. "What lies?"

would Mr. Horton be here with you in person? You two are the strongest

her a

I'll stop poking holes in your story! But honestly, Keira's not exactly the type who needs a pep

Lewis's face darkened further.

afraid of the water? I remember hearing something about how Keira and Keera almost drowned in Oceanion? And

Keira's gaze turned sharp.

expression grew even more menacing, but Erin wasn't the least bit scared of him. It was only when Keira's cold stare landed

but at least

back to the

hit

uneasy. The ocean had almost taken her life once, and it had claimed her sister's. Those memories made her wary of the

eased that tension, but Erin's insistence on digging into it

furrowed her brows and

boat sped across the waves, and true to Lewis's word, they arrived near the Country

they neared the shore, all the lights and engines were shut off. They let the boat drift in silently until they were close enough to land. Then they hid quietly,

his phone. "Five minutes. Professor

Keira noticed shadows moving along the

"Border patrol," Lewis explained.

"Don't worry. They'll be gone in under a

officers swept the area with their flashlights and then moved on, leaving the coast

finally exhaled a breath she

"This is so nerve-wracking… feels like we're pulling off

her an exasperated look before returning her focus to

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