Chương 53: 053

The door shut silently behind him. I crossed my arms.

"So, want to tell me what changed in the span of less than an hour? Because earlier, you were perfectly fine with helping those people." Time opened his mouth, but the familiar tingle flared at the back of my neck. I narrowed my eyes.

"Without lying, if you don't mind. I can sense it now, remember?" His jaw clicked shut and he grimaced.

"I should never have explained what that sensation meant…"

"Boo-hoo", I snorted.

"You have to tell me the truth now. Too late to backtrack. So, what's the real reason? Because, let's be clear, if it's not fantastic I'm going to help those people." So what's the real reason? Because let's be clear—if it's not fantastic, I'm helping those people." Between the suffering they'd likely endured and the possibility of finding one of Silas's generals, there was no way I was walking away.

His top commanders were our best source of intel—aside from the journal tucked safely in my bag—and we couldn't afford to ignore any lead. Time stood motionless, indecision carved into his features. I didn't budge. This mattered too much. Finally, exhaustion won out over resistance.

"I have a deep and painful history with Dawnmoor," he said quietly.

"The last time I was there, I swore never to return." A blade of grief cut through his expression.

"Dawnmoor has the resistance leader," he added stiffly, "and your new friend. That should be enough." Honesty, finally. I relaxed a fraction, though my arms remained crossed.

"Okay. Trauma's a class-A bitch, I get that. But what about the general? You said it yourself, this is our only lead." Time's lips thinned. He didn't answer. I pressed on.

"Silas said his generals have incredible powers. What if this one wipes out the resistance? Doesn't that still land us squarely in apocalypse territory?" I'd managed to take down the army earlier and the general wouldn't be alone. Time exhaled and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I considered that as well…"

"And you still want to avoid it?" My voice sharpened.

"What the hell happened there to make you this averse to the place?" I expected deflection. Evasion. Anything but the silence that followed. Then he turned away, his expression snapping into a blank, carefully controlled mask.

"Karma and I lost a child there." Fuck. The word hit like a gut punch. Of all the answers I'd braced for, that hadn't even crossed my mind. Slowly, painfully, the pieces slid into place. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. His discomfort at the idea of taking me in when I was younger. His insistence that he would never be my father, even if Karma adopted me. It all made jagged, awful sense. Sympathy twisted tight in my chest as I scrubbed my hands down my face.

This just got a lot more complicated. I couldn't ask him to return to the place where his child had died. That would be cruel. But could we really risk leaving a general unchecked because of it? The apocalypse was just a roll of the dice away and we didn't know what the catalyst was yet…

"Well," I muttered.

"Fuck."

"Yes," Time replied grimly.

"Fuck is an accurate summary of the situation. Though I could offer several dozen more colorful descriptors." The tension pressed down on the room as I weighed our options, or lack thereof.

"What if we ask Henry whether he knows anything about the general near Dawnmoor? Depending on the power involved, maybe the resistance can handle it." Time hummed, noncommittal.

"And if the general's power is beyond them?" The million-dollar question. Unfortunately, I only saw one answer.

"Then you stay in the next town over. I'll go with Dura to help them take down the general, gather whatever information we can, and come back for you." His expression twisted.

"The entire reason I took human form was to remain at your side." I huffed, folding my arms again.

"And I can't abandon those people, not with a potential apocalypse hanging over our heads. This is the only compromise that works. Take it or leave it." Frustration radiated off him, but after a long, tense silence, he nodded.

"If your aid is required in Dawnmoor, I will wait in Latica. The walk is several days, but… this arrangement satisfies all parties." Relief loosened the knot in my chest. At least we had a plan.

"Alright," I said, gesturing to the door.

"Let's go talk to Henry, ask about the general, and explain how this is going to work." Time followed without complaint—but when we reached the hallway, I halted. The charmed guards still stood staring straight ahead, and Henry's soldiers hadn't arrived yet.

"Dominicus said to meet them at the main gate tomorrow," I muttered, "but he didn't say where they'd be until then."

"If we wait," Time said, "his soldiers should pass through eventually." I grimaced.

"Not eager to gamble on someone mistaking us for allies of the king. What are the odds they're still in the dungeon?" He glanced back.

"Low—but not impossible. Many prisoners are still being freed."

"Then let's go," I said.

"That feels safer." The walk back passed in tense silence. When we descended the stairs, I scanned the crowd—every race, every age, packed together in the narrow space. Then I spotted familiar wings.

"Dominicus!" I called.

"Is Henry still here?" His wings twitched in surprise as the crowd parted. He approached, carefully furling them.

"He's in the final section. Most of the prisoners have been freed." His sharp gaze slid to Time, narrowing with open suspicion. I couldn't blame him. My feelings hadn't been charitable before knowing why he'd voted to leave Dawnmoor to Henry. That said, his reason was intensely personal, so rather than explain, I stepped between them.

"We've reached an agreement. If Dawnmoor needs help, I'll go. He'll stay in Latica. I just need to ask Henry about the general stationed nearby." Dominicus relaxed slightly, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. He gestured down a corridor.

"He's that way. I hope you'll join us." I nodded and followed, torn between wanting and dreading to walk the same road. People needed help. But depending on the general's power… This might get ugly.