"Understood, Luna," Croft says, offering a crisp salute. "I'll have the first transport ready by 0800 tomorrow."
As Croft leaves the room, I look at Kade. Through the mate bond, I feel his absolute, unyielding resolve.
The cosmic war is over. But the work of rebuilding the world has just begun.
Night falls over the Academy.
The physical scars of the war have been integrated into the architecture. The massive, scorched monolith of the surface tether still stands in the center of the courtyard, but now, a single, tiny, golden leaf glows softly in the moonlight.
I stand on the balcony of our suite, a mug of hot tea warming my heavily bandaged hands. The air smells of pine, damp earth, and the faint, sweet scent of blooming jasmine. The night is quiet, save for the distant, rhythmic hum o
