The morning air carried a sharp, damp chill that cut straight through tactical sleeves, but inside the compound garage, the atmosphere was soft, quiet, and thick with unspoken emotion.
Parked near the main bay door was a sleek, reliable black sedan—complete with a fresh set of untraceable plates, a reinforced bumper, and a fully topped-off tank. Drakon stood near the open driver’s side door, tossing the key fob casually into the air before catching it and extending his hand toward Rowan.
"She’s solid," Drakon said, his deep voice carrying a rare, relaxed warmth. "Equipped with a clean comm relay, emergency road gear, and a secondary compartment under the spare tire if you need to stow anything heavy."
Rowan took the keys, looking down at the sleek fob before extending a hand to clasp Dr
