Chapter 48. Chains and Choices

Rave’s throat locked, but she forced words out. “We go after her.”

The yard stilled.

Then voices erupted.

“She’s not even one of us!”

“This is a setup.”

“We can’t bleed for a civvie.”

“She’s already dead.”

The fire spit sparks as the arguments collided.

Riven’s stomach twisted, but she planted her boots, voice cutting through. “If they came for her because of me, then it’s my fight.”

A rider barked back, “You don’t call shots, Hale.”

Heat flared in her chest. “She’s innocent. You want her blood on your hands because you’re scared?”

The noise grew sharper. Someone cursed, another spat in the dirt.

Axel stepped forward, his presence slicing the chaos. His hood hung loose, his bruised jaw catching the firelight. His voice carried, low but steady. “We move.”

The arguments broke into sharper pieces.

“You’re siding with her?”

“Wolfe picking Hale’s ghost over the crew—surprise, surprise.”