The storm outside raged louder now.
Wind screamed against the windows. Thunder cracked like the sky itself was splitting open.
But inside the room, the storm was a man.
The Old Wolf.
Kade stood over Lucien's body, fists trembling, jaw clenched tight enough to crack bone.
She hadn't woken again.
Not after that brief moment.
Not after that punch.
She just… slipped away.
Her breathing was shallow.
Skin cold.
Her pulse flickering like a candle on the verge of going out.
And Kade—Kade looked ready to tear the world apart.
"Someone explain this to me," he growled. "Explain why my daughter is dying while all of you stand here doing NOTHING."
Evelyn flinched. Jonas looked down. Even Dave stayed quiet.
Only Elias held his ground.
"She's not dying," Elias said softly. "She's stuck. Between."
Kade turned on him.
"Between what, Voss?"
Elias looked at Lucien.
"Between here… and the Other Side."
The words dropped like lead in the room.
Jonas swore under his breath. Evelyn stepped back, arms crossed. Even Yuni tensed in the doorway.
"The Other Side?" Dave echoed. "You mean, like—death?"
"No," Elias said. "Worse."
"The Seal Gate didn't just lock out secrets. It locked in something. Some of us who got too close… we saw glimpses."
He looked back at Lucien, voice low.
"She went deeper than she was supposed to. And now it's got her."
"So what's the solution?" Kade barked.
Elias hesitated.
Jonas answered for him.
"Someone has to go in after her."
Silence.
No one moved.
Kade's fury boiled over.
"You're telling me my daughter is trapped in some damn spiritual prison and NONE of you are willing to go after her?!"
"It's not that simple," Evelyn said. "You don't just walk into the Other Side. You give something up. Time. Memory. Pieces of yourself."
"If you don't come back fast…" Dave muttered, "…you don't come back at all."
Kade stepped forward, eyes burning.
"Then I'll do it."
Elias blocked his path.
"No."
"She's my daughter, Voss."
"I know," Elias said. "But you're not the one she trusts to pull her out."
The two men locked eyes—one fueled by rage, the other by resolve.
"We have to decide," Elias said finally. "Now."
The room held its breath.
Outside, lightning split the sky.
And inside, five broken souls stood around a dying woman—trying to decide which of them would walk through hell to bring her home.