Chapter 22: Love and Sacrifice

The sharp, sterile light of the enemy's base flickered overhead as Alexis crouched behind a stack of crates, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The world around her felt disjointed, as though she were watching events unfold through a haze, everything moving too quickly for her to process. Kayden was gone—captured in the chaos of their escape. And now, every second that passed felt like it was slipping further out of her control.

She clenched her fists, her knuckles white, the cold metal of her weapon digging into her palm. It had been hours since they’d last been together in the cavern, moments after destroying the fragment. The elation of their small victory had evaporated almost immediately when the enemy ambushed them. It all happened too fast—one moment, they were running, and the next, Kayden was gone, dragged into the darkness by Alara’s forces.

And now, Alexis was alone.

The thought of Kayden locked away somewhere, suffering at the hands of the enemy, made her stomach twist with fear and rage. She could hardly breathe around the tight knot in her chest. Her heart pounded with every heartbeat, louder and louder, until it was almost deafening.

She had to find him. She couldn’t leave him behind. Not now—not after everything they had been through.

A movement in the corner of her eye snapped her out of her thoughts. A guard, pacing back and forth, unaware of her presence. Alexis’s jaw tightened as she moved forward, her footsteps silent as she approached the man. She couldn’t afford to hesitate. Not now.

With swift, practiced precision, she knocked the guard unconscious, catching him before he hit the floor and dragging him into the shadows. Her pulse quickened, but she forced herself to remain calm. This was just the beginning. There were still so many obstacles between her and Kayden. But she would overcome them all.

Because she had no other choice.

The cell was cold and dark, its walls damp with moisture from the underground base. Kayden sat chained to the wall, his wrists raw and bleeding from the metal cuffs that bit into his skin. His body ached, and every breath felt like a struggle. But none of that compared to the pain in his chest—the ache that came from knowing that Alexis was out there, probably still fighting, probably risking her life to save him.

He hated the thought of her in danger, hated that she might get hurt because of him. He had told her he loved her, promised her that they would face everything together. But now he was here, and she was out there, alone.

The door to the cell creaked open, and Kayden’s head snapped up. His vision was blurry, his body weak, but the figure that stepped into the room was unmistakable.

Alara.

She stepped closer, her cold, calculating eyes glinting with amusement. “Still alive, I see. You always were difficult to kill, Kayden.”

He glared at her, his jaw clenched. “Where is Alexis?”

Alara smirked, leaning down until her face was inches from his. “Oh, don’t worry. She’s coming for you. She always was a fool for love.”

Kayden’s heart lurched in his chest, the rage building inside him. He pulled against the chains, his muscles screaming in protest, but it was useless. He was trapped, and Alara knew it.

“You won’t win,” he growled, his voice hoarse. “She’ll stop you.”

Alara laughed softly, straightening as she crossed her arms over her chest. “She’ll die trying. You’ve seen what happens when people get too close to power, Kayden. You’ve lost everything before, and now, you’re going to lose her too.”

The words cut deep, but Kayden refused to show weakness. He refused to let her see the fear gnawing at him, the fear that she might be right.

“Alexis is stronger than you’ll ever understand,” he said, his voice hard. “She’ll find a way.”

Alara’s smile faded, and her eyes darkened. “We’ll see.”

Alexis’s heart raced as she made her way through the twisting corridors of the enemy base, her pulse quickening with every step. She had studied the map, memorized every route, but nothing could have prepared her for the overwhelming dread that consumed her now. The thought of Kayden—weak, alone, in the hands of the enemy—drove her forward, even as her fear threatened to paralyze her.

She was close now. She could feel it. And that terrified her.

The deeper she went into the base, the more guards she had to evade or take down. Every encounter made her stomach churn with anxiety, but she couldn’t afford to think about it. There was no time for fear, no time for doubt. She was going to find Kayden, and she was going to bring him back. Alive.

Finally, she reached the door at the end of the corridor—the one that led to the holding cells. Her hand shook as she reached for the handle, her mind racing with possibilities. What if he was hurt? What if they had tortured him? What if she was too late?

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open.

The sight that greeted her made her heart lurch painfully in her chest. There, slumped against the far wall of the cell, was Kayden. His body was bruised and battered, his wrists bound in chains, but he was alive. He was alive.

“Kayden,” Alexis whispered, rushing toward him.

His head lifted slowly, his eyes bleary with exhaustion. When he saw her, his expression shifted—first to shock, and then to something deeper. Relief, mixed with fear.

“Alexis…” His voice was weak, but the emotion in it was unmistakable.

Alexis dropped to her knees in front of him, her hands trembling as she reached for his face, her fingers brushing against his skin. “I’m here. I’m going to get you out of here.”

Kayden shook his head weakly, his gaze locking onto hers. “You shouldn’t have come.”

Tears stung Alexis’s eyes, but she blinked them away. “I couldn’t leave you. Not after everything.”

“They’re going to come after you,” Kayden said, his voice filled with a raw vulnerability that made her chest tighten. “You should have run. You should have saved yourself.”

Alexis’s throat tightened, and she shook her head, her voice trembling. “I’m not running without you. I won’t lose you, Kayden. Not now. Not ever.”

Kayden’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the weight of everything they had been through—every fight, every argument, every confession—hung in the air between them.

“I love you,” Kayden whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I’ve never stopped loving you.”

Alexis’s heart clenched, and she leaned forward, her forehead resting against his as tears slipped down her cheeks. “I love you too.”

The moment was shattered by the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor. Alexis’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing with panic. They were running out of time.

“I’ll get you out of these chains,” she said quickly, her hands moving to the metal cuffs around his wrists. “Just hold on.”

Kayden winced as she worked, but he didn’t protest. He knew as well as she did that their time was running out.

As she fumbled with the lock, the footsteps grew louder, closer. Alexis’s hands shook with fear and adrenaline, her mind racing. She had to free him. She had to save him.

Finally, with a sharp click, the cuffs came loose, and Kayden collapsed into her arms, his body weak but free. Alexis helped him to his feet, her heart pounding as the footsteps stopped just outside the door.

“They’re here,” Kayden whispered, his voice filled with dread.

Alexis nodded, her grip tightening around her weapon. “Then we fight. Together.”

Kayden looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of love and fear. “Always together.”

And as the door burst open, revealing Alara and her soldiers, Alexis and Kayden stood side by side, ready to face whatever came next.

Because no matter what happened, no matter the cost, they would fight.

Together.

Until the end.