I sat perched on a thick tree branch, my circular sunglasses shielding my eyes from the harsh sunlight filtering through the dense canopy. The chaos of the battle had subsided, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. I could still smell the acrid scent of dissolving Titan flesh, a constant reminder of the carnage we'd just witnessed.

"I see your attitude has gotten worse in the past two years," Mike's familiar voice broke through my thoughts as he landed beside me. A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth, despite the gravity of our situation.

"Aww, I bet you just miss me being in your squad," I replied softly, a hint of nostalgia coloring my words. I turned my gaze towards the Female Titan, now wrapped up in Erwin's elaborate wire trap. The sight of it made my stomach churn with a mixture of anger and frustration.

"Erwin's really gone off the deep end with this whole farce of an expedition," I muttered, more to myself than to Mike. "I'm almost tempted to grab Eren and Jake and head back to Wall Rose before things completely go tits up."

Mike raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "You really think it's that bad?"

I peeked over my sunglasses, fixing him with a pointed look. "We are ill-prepared to deal with this situation. For all we know, that bitch could sprout wings at any moment," I said casually, though the weight of my words hung heavy in the air.

As I watched Erwin barking orders to his team, preparing explosives for the Female Titan's wrists, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread creeping up my spine. This whole operation reeked of desperation, and I feared we were about to pay a heavy price for Erwin's gamble.

My eyes drifted to Levi, who had positioned himself atop the Titan's head. Even from this distance, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the barely contained fury in his stance. I knew that look all too well – Levi was about to unleash hell.

His voice carried across the clearing, a mix of sarcasm and threat that sent a shiver down my spine. "Knock, knock. We know you're in there. Why don't you make this easy and come on out and stop wasting our time?"

I watched, a mix of admiration and unease coursing through me, as Levi continued his psychological assault on the person inside the Titan. His words were calculated, each one designed to chip away at their resolve. It was a side of Levi I'd seen before, but never quite like this.

The air grew thick with tension as Levi's threats became more explicit. "You enjoy killing, don't you? Which means we have something in common. Of course, I enjoy killing Titans, but it's a start. I'm sure we can find some middle ground."

I felt my breath catch in my throat as Levi leaned forward, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Oh, that's right. While we're on the subject, let me ask: you're okay with me cutting your limbs off at the joints, right? I mean, they'll grow back, right? I'm talking about your actual body."

The squad around us watched with a mix of awe and unease, witnessing Levi's psychological tactics firsthand. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride mixed with fear – this was the man I'd fallen in love with, in all his terrifying glory.

Suddenly, the air was split by a high-pitched scream that seemed to emanate from the very core of the Female Titan. The sound was so piercing, so inhuman, that I found myself instinctively covering my ears, my body tensing as if preparing for an attack.

As the scream faded, an eerie silence settled over the forest. I exchanged nervous glances with the others, the tension palpable as we awaited the fallout from this new development. Levi's voice cut through the silence, his tone almost impressed. "Nicely done. I almost lost my composure."

Before I could process what had just happened, Mike zipped through the forest canopy, landing beside Erwin with urgency etched on his face. The news he brought sent a chill down my spine – Titans were approaching rapidly from every direction.

I watched as Erwin's eyes widened slightly, the first crack in his stoic facade. The implications of this development were staggering, and I could see the weight of it settling on Erwin's shoulders.

The ground beneath us began to tremble, leaves shaking loose from the giant trees as hordes of Titans converged on our location. My heart raced as I realized the gravity of our situation. Without a second thought, I zipped to Levi's side, my face a mix of concern and accusation.

"What the hell, Levi, do you always have to provoke everyone and everything?" I demanded, my voice barely containing my rising panic.

Levi's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of uncertainty cross his face. It was gone in an instant, replaced by his usual determined expression. But that brief moment was enough to confirm my fears – we were in way over our heads.

As Titans flooded into the clearing, their grotesque forms a stark contrast to the serene forest setting, I felt a surge of anger towards Erwin. His gamble had backfired spectacularly, and now we were all paying the price.

I glanced at him, my earlier fury now tempered by the immediate threat we faced. There would be time for recriminations later – if we survived this mess.

Levi's Perspective:

I stood atop the Female Titan's head, my blades at the ready, as I watched the chaos unfold around us. The air was thick with the stench of Titan flesh and the metallic tang of blood. My earlier bravado had given way to a grim determination as I realized the full extent of our predicament.

Evelyn's voice cut through the din of battle, her accusation ringing in my ears. "What the hell, Levi, do you always have to provoke everyone and everything?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with a mixture of concern and anger behind those ridiculous sunglasses of hers.

I met her gaze, allowing myself a brief moment of uncertainty before steeling my resolve. "Tch. It doesn't matter now," I growled, my voice carrying a hint of frustration. "What matters is dealing with this mess."

Without waiting for her response, I launched myself into action. My ODM gear whirred as I took down two approaching Titans with lightning speed. The familiar rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins as I cut through flesh and bone, my movements fluid and precise.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Evelyn draw her blades, a look of grim determination settling over her features. Despite our recent tensions, I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at her unwavering courage in the face of danger.

As Titans flooded into the clearing, their grotesque forms ignoring us entirely in their frenzied attempt to devour the captured Female Titan, I heard Erwin's voice ring out. "Protect the prisoner at all costs!" he ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

I gritted my teeth, knowing full well the futility of his command. But orders were orders, and I'd be damned if I let these mindless beasts undo all our hard work.

Evelyn and I found ourselves fighting back-to-back, our movements synchronized despite the tension that had been brewing between us. It was as if all our personal grievances had melted away in the face of this overwhelming threat.

We cut down Titan after Titan, but for each one felled, two more seemed to take its place. The air around us filled with steam from dissolving Titan corpses, creating a nightmarish battlefield that seemed to stretch on endlessly.

"This is insane!" Evelyn shouted over the cacophony of battle. "We can't keep this up forever!"

I grunted in agreement, my blades slicing through another Titan's nape. "Just keep moving," I called back. "Don't let them corner you!"

As we fought, I caught glimpses of the Female Titan slowly being devoured despite our best efforts. Chunks of flesh were torn away by frenzied mouths, and I knew it was only a matter of time before our prisoner was lost to us completely.

I saw Evelyn zip towards Erwin, her voice urgent as she implored him to call a retreat. Part of me wanted to follow her, to add my own voice to hers, but I knew my place was here, in the thick of battle.

A heavy silence fell over the battlefield, the chaos of battle fading into the background as Erwin considered Evelyn's words. I watched as he closed his eyes, the weight of command visible in the set of his shoulders. When he opened them again, determination blazed in his gaze.

"All units, withdraw!" Erwin's voice carried across the battlefield, a mixture of resignation and resolve in his tone.

As we retreated, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a tactical setback. We had gambled everything on this mission, and we had lost. The consequences of this failure would be far-reaching, and I feared we had only scratched the surface of the challenges that lay ahead.

Later, as Erwin and I stood on a thick tree branch, surveying the steaming remains of the Female Titan below, I felt a heaviness settle in my chest. The forest was eerily quiet, the air thick with tension and the acrid smell of dissolving Titan flesh.

Erwin broke the silence, his voice tinged with resignation as he dabbed at his split lip – a souvenir from Evelyn's earlier outburst. "It seems our efforts were for naught," he said. "And I doubt Zachary will allow us to keep Eren in the Scouts after this debacle."

I felt a surge of bitterness rise within me. "So, all that posturing in the courtroom was for nothing, then?" I said, my eyes narrowing. "Eren's likely to end up back in chains, or worse."

Before Erwin could respond, Evelyn zipped over to us, her face a mask of cool anger. "I hope this is the end of this nonsensical plan of yours, Erwin," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. "You've done enough damage with this whole shit show of an expedition."

I watched as she announced her intention to check on Eren, zipping off into the trees without another word. Part of me wanted to follow her, to offer some form of comfort or solidarity, but I knew now wasn't the time.

Erwin's gaze was heavy with defeat as he turned to me. "Evelyn was right," he admitted, his tone tinged with regret. "This expedition was a waste of time, resulting in so many deaths with nothing to show for it."

I felt my jaw clench at his words. It wasn't like Erwin to admit defeat so readily, and it unsettled me more than I cared to admit. "I'll gather up my squad," I said, preparing to leave.

But Erwin's voice stopped me. "Not yet, Levi," he said. "First, replenish your blades and fuel."

I felt a flicker of irritation. "I can deal with what I've got," I argued. "We're running against the clock as it is. Why?"

Erwin's response was firm. "Because I said so. That's an order."

For a moment, I considered arguing further. But the weariness in Erwin's eyes and the gravity of our situation made me reconsider. "Whatever you say, sir," I replied, my words carrying a hint of sarcasm.

As I turned to leave, Erwin's next words caught me off guard. "You and Evelyn are a bad influence on each other, you know," he said, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice despite the circumstances.

I paused, considering his words. There was truth in them, I knew. Evelyn had always brought out a side of me that few others could – a side that was more prone to questioning orders, to pushing boundaries. And I knew I had a similar effect on her.

"Maybe so," I conceded, a ghost of a smile tugging at my lips. "But maybe that's not such a bad thing."

As I made my way to replenish my supplies, I couldn't shake the feeling that our troubles were far from over. The Female Titan may have escaped us, but I had a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning of a much larger conflict.

And as I thought of Evelyn, of the fire in her eyes and the determination in her voice, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together. For better or worse, our fates were intertwined, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

~

The forest was eerily quiet as Jake stood with Levi's squad, waiting for news of their captain and Evelyn. The tension in the air was palpable, each member of the squad lost in their own thoughts and worries. Jake's eyes scanned the treeline, searching for any sign of movement or the telltale flash of ODM gear.

Suddenly, Eld's voice broke through the silence. "Look!" he exclaimed, pointing skyward. Blue smoke flares streaked across the sky, signaling the end of the expedition. "That's our cue. Saddle up, we're going home."

Oluo, ever the braggart, stood up with a smirk. "Chop, chop, runt," he said, glancing at Eren. "Time to move out."

Eren's voice was tinged with uncertainty as he asked, "You really think they found out who the female titan is?"

Petra's reassuring smile did little to ease the knot in Jake's stomach. "Of course they did, silly," she said, her voice filled with forced optimism. "It's all thanks to you for trusting in us."

As the others began to prepare for departure, Jake's sharp eyes caught sight of a figure in the distance, standing on one of the tree branches. Without a word, he started walking towards the forest, his instincts screaming that something was wrong.

"Oi, greenhorn!" Oluo's irritated voice called out. "Where do you think you're wandering off to?"

Jake waved him off, his tone casual but his body tense. "I'm going for a piss. It's a long ride back to Wall Rose, after all." He paused, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Why? You want to see how much bigger mine is compared to yours?"

Oluo sputtered indignantly, but Jake was already moving deeper into the forest, his senses on high alert.

~

Levi's perspective:

I zipped through the forest, my blades freshly replaced and my gas tanks replenished. The silence that greeted me as I approached the clearing where I'd left my squad was unnerving. No chatter, no sounds of preparation for our return journey. Just... silence.

As I burst into the clearing, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. My squad, the people I'd sworn to protect, lay scattered across the forest floor. Their bodies were broken, their eyes staring sightlessly at the canopy above. I felt my chest constrict, a wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm me.

In the center of the carnage stood a young girl, her dark hair whipping in the wind. Her face was contorted with rage and anguish as she screamed, "Eren, hang on! I'm coming for you!" Before I could call out to her, she was gone, zipping off into the forest in pursuit of something I couldn't see.

Without hesitation, I followed her, my mind racing. Where was Evelyn? Was she safe?

I caught up to the girl quickly, matching her pace as we flew through the trees. "Maintain current distance," I called out, my voice steady despite the turmoil in my chest. "She's slowed down a bit. It looks like she bit the whole nape off of Eren's titan. It's unlikely Eren survived."

The girl's glare could have melted steel. "No," she spat, her voice filled with a conviction that surprised me. "Eren is alive. If she wanted him dead, she would have just squashed him or something. Eren is alive and in her mouth."

I spared her a glance, impressed despite myself by her determination. "Someone's optimistic," I replied, my tone dry.

Her response was immediate and filled with venom. "If you had just done your damn job and protected him like you were supposed to, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place!"

Her words hit me like a physical blow, and I felt my eyes widen in surprise. "Oh, I see," I said, the pieces falling into place. "You're a childhood friend, right? Suddenly it's all making sense."

As we continued our pursuit, I couldn't shake the gnawing worry about Evelyn's whereabouts. Where was she in all this chaos?

~

The forest blurred around us as we chased after the female titan. The girl – Mikasa, I'd learned – was about to suggest we kill the titan when a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Oi, you bint! You should have killed me when you had the chance!"

My heart leapt into my throat as I saw Evelyn zip out from the trees, her face a mask of determination and rage. The female titan spun to attack, but Evelyn was ready. With a grace that never failed to impress me, she dodged the massive fist and threw a bag of oil at the titan's face. The explosion that followed engulfed the titan's head in smoke.

Taking advantage of the titan's momentary blindness, Evelyn sliced through its ankle joints, bringing the monstrous creature to its knees. Pride swelled in my chest at her skill and bravery, but it was quickly replaced by heart-stopping fear as I saw the female titan's hand swing through the smoke, aiming straight for Evelyn.

Time seemed to slow as I watched Evelyn realize she couldn't dodge in time. Her eyes closed, bracing for impact, and in that moment, I felt as though my world was about to end.

Without conscious thought, I was moving. My blades flashed through the air, slicing through the female titan's fingers just before they made contact with Evelyn. The severed digits fell to the forest floor with a thunderous crash, steam rising from the wounds.

Evelyn's eyes snapped open, meeting mine for a brief, intense moment. In that look, I saw relief, gratitude, and something deeper that made my heart race. But there was no time for sentiment. With a growl of determination, I launched myself at the female titan, my blades a whirlwind of destruction as I tore through its eyes and ligaments.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Mikasa moving in for the kill, aiming for the titan's nape. "No, don't do it!" I shouted, but it was too late. The female titan's hand swung towards her, and I had no choice but to push her out of harm's way.

Pain exploded in my leg as it connected with the titan's arm, the sickening crack of breaking bone echoing through the forest. Gritting my teeth against the agony, I pushed through, slicing open the titan's jaw to free an unconscious Eren.

Landing on a branch, I cradled Eren's limp form in my arms, my injured leg screaming in protest. I glanced at Mikasa, who was staring at Eren with a mixture of relief and concern. "He's alive," I said, my voice strained. "Disgusting, but fine." I couldn't resist adding, "We all get that you're in love with him, but try not to act crazy."

As Mikasa sputtered in embarrassment, I turned my attention to Evelyn, who had landed beside us. Her face was pale, a trickle of blood running down her temple, and her eyes were wide with a mix of relief and concern as she took in my injured state.

"Levi," she began, her voice soft and filled with worry. I cut her off with a shake of my head.

"Not now," I said, my tone gentler than I'd intended. "We need to get out of here. The female titan won't stay down for long."

As we neared the edge of the forest, I caught sight of the rest of the squad waiting for us. Jake's eyes widened as he took in our battered state, and I saw a flash of something – relief? concern? – cross his face as his gaze landed on Evelyn.

"What the hell happened out there?" he called as we touched down, his voice a mix of worry and frustration.

I opened my mouth to respond, but Evelyn beat me to it. "Long story," she said, her voice tight with exhaustion and pain. "We need to get Eren to safety and regroup with the rest of the expedition."

Jake nodded, his expression serious as he took in the unconscious form of Eren in my arms. "Right. I'll signal the others. We need to move fast."

As Jake moved to prepare the horses and signal our position, I found myself watching Evelyn. She stood tall despite the exhaustion that was evident in every line of her body, her eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of pursuit.

"Evelyn," I said softly, drawing her attention back to me. "Are you alright?"

Evelyn forced a smile, but I could see the pain she was trying to hide. "I took a pretty hard hit to the head, but I'll be fine," she said.

I wanted to argue, to insist that she get checked out immediately, but I knew now wasn't the time. We had to focus on getting back to safety, on regrouping with the rest of the expedition. But as I looked at Evelyn, at the blood matting her hair and the determined set of her jaw, I made a silent vow to myself. I would protect her, no matter what it took. I couldn't lose her, not now, not ever.

~

The sun was beginning to set as we finally caught sight of the walls in the distance. The golden light painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, a beautiful backdrop to the grim procession of survivors making their way home. As we approached the gate, I could see the crowd gathering, their faces a mix of hope and fear as they searched for loved ones among our battered ranks.

I felt Evelyn's eyes on me as we passed through the gate, concern etched into every line of her face. "Levi," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the murmur of the crowd. "Your leg..."

I shook my head, cutting her off. "It's fine," I lied, gritting my teeth against the pain that shot through me with every movement of the horse. "We need to get Eren to safety first."

She nodded, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. As we made our way through the streets, I found myself hyper-aware of her presence beside me, of the way she unconsciously moved to shield my injured side from the pressing crowd. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes about the bond between us, a bond that had only grown stronger in the face of today's horrors.

Evelyn's perspective:

The acrid stench of defeat hung heavy in the air as we rode through the gates of Wall Rose. The rhythmic clop of hooves against cobblestone streets seemed to echo the somber heartbeats of the returning soldiers. I could feel the weight of failure pressing down on my shoulders, threatening to crush me beneath its unforgiving mass.

As Jake and I approached Commander Nile, I felt a slight hesitation in my step. My raven hair, usually meticulously kept, was now disheveled and matted with sweat and grime. I could feel the tension in my shoulders, my fingers curling and uncurling at my sides as we drew closer.

"Scarlet, Novak, report," Nile barked, his voice cutting through the din of the returning soldiers. "Has the breach in Wall Maria been fixed?"

I clenched my jaw, feeling a flicker of anger and frustration pass across my face before I schooled my features into a mask of professionalism. "No," I replied, my voice steady despite the weight of the words. "Erwin Smith lied about the expedition. The whole thing was a farce to try and capture another Titan shifter. Jake and I weren't made aware of Erwin's true intentions."

The admission hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. I could see the shock ripple through the crowd, murmurs of disbelief and outrage rising like a tide. Nile's expression darkened, his eyes flicking briefly to where Erwin stood, impassive as ever.

"Alright," Nile said after a moment, his voice tight with barely contained fury. "I'll handle things from here. Get some rest and return to Ehrmich. You're both to return to your jobs as Special MP officers next week."

"Aye, aye, commander," Jake responded, his usual sarcasm noticeably absent.

As Nile turned away, presumably to confront Erwin, Jake leaned in close to me. "So, wanna get blind at a bar?" he asked, a weak attempt at levity that fell flat in the somber atmosphere.

I shook my head, my eyes meeting Levi's across the courtyard. "You go on ahead," I said to Jake. "I'm going back to the castle with Levi and Eren to collect our things. I'll see you back at the office... don't spill alcohol on our case files."

I made my way over to Levi, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. "Let's go," I said softly as I reached him, my hand briefly touching his arm.

The ride back to the old abandoned Scout headquarters was silent, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Eren rode ahead, his shoulders hunched, the weight of his role in this disaster clearly weighing heavily on him. I rode beside Levi, his presence both a comfort and a source of turmoil.

As we approached the crumbling castle that had been our temporary home, I noticed Levi's face contort in pain. The injury to his leg, which he had been steadfastly ignoring, seemed to flare with renewed intensity.

"Ah, ah, you're not going anywhere but to your room," I said as we dismounted, my tone brooking no argument. "You have a broken leg."

Levi opened his mouth to protest, but the look in my eyes silenced him. I gently tugged on his arm, feeling a shiver run down my spine at the contact. "Don't start with me," I said, my voice softening. "I'm taking you to your room whether you want to or not."

I guided him to his room, my hand on the small of his back as I gently pushed him to sit on the bed. "Stay here," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be right back."

I left the room, my mind racing with thoughts of the disastrous expedition, the lives lost, and the betrayal we had all experienced. When I returned, it was with a bottle of whisky in hand. "Here," I said, offering Levi the bottle. "This should dull the pain a little."

I pulled up a chair, straddling it with my arms resting on the back. "I'm not in a hurry to head back to the office to find Jake has burned down our office."

Levi took a long pull from the bottle, the whisky burning a path down his throat. "Tell me something," he said, surprising me with the request. "Something good. Something that has nothing to do with Titans or expeditions or any of this shit."

I raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in my eye. "Hmm, sadly don't got any amusing stories you'd like to hear... unless you wanna hear about the time I went undercover as an exotic dancer," I said with a laugh.

Levi nearly choked on his whisky. "You what?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction. "Oh, come on, Levi. You didn't think all my undercover work was just sitting in stuffy rooms eavesdropping on corrupt nobles, did you?"

His eyes widened slightly, a mix of curiosity and something else – was it jealousy? – flickering across his face. "I... I never really thought about it," he admitted.

I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "It was about one year ago. We had intel that a human trafficking ring was operating out of a high-end gentleman's club in the interior. Jake and I were assigned to infiltrate and gather evidence."

Levi's brow furrowed. "And you went in as a dancer?"

I nodded, a wry smile on my face. "Jake played the part of a wealthy patron, and I... well, I had to get creative. Turns out, those fancy nobles aren't just interested in titans and politics. They have quite the appetite for entertainment."

I could see Levi's jaw clench, his grip on the whisky bottle tightening. "Did you... I mean, were you...?"

"No," I said quickly, understanding his unspoken question. "Nothing like that. It was all about the tease, the illusion. I danced, I flirted, I listened. And in the end, we got what we needed to bring down the entire operation."

Levi nodded, visibly relaxing. "I'm glad you weren't... I mean, I'm glad you were safe."

I reached out, my hand resting lightly on his knee. "I can take care of myself, Levi. You know that."

He looked at me then, his steel-gray eyes intense. "I know. It's just... the thought of anyone else seeing you like that..."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest that had nothing to do with the whisky. "Jealous, Captain?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.

He scoffed, but I could see the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Tch. Don't be ridiculous."

I laughed, the sound feeling foreign in the heavy atmosphere of the room. "Hmm, and all those times you got violent towards guys flirting with me was just my imagination," I said, my voice laced with playful sarcasm.

Levi's perspective:

I felt a flush creep up my neck, thankful for the dim lighting in the room. Before I could formulate a response, Evelyn stood up and took the whisky out of my hand. "Okay, now get your dirty ass clothes off and get into bed, or I'll undress you myself," she said, taking a gulp of the whisky.

I raised an eyebrow at her, a challenge in my eyes. "Is that a threat or a promise, Scarlet?"

She rolled her eyes, but I could see the faint blush on her cheeks. "Don't push your luck, shorty. You're in no condition for anything other than sleep right now."

As if to prove her point, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. I grudgingly began to remove my gear, wincing as the movement jostled my injured leg. Evelyn watched me for a moment before setting down the whisky bottle and moving to help.

Her fingers were deft and gentle as she unbuckled the straps of my harness. The intimacy of the moment wasn't lost on me, and I found myself holding my breath as her hands brushed against my chest.

"There," she said softly, stepping back. "Think you can manage the rest?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. She turned away, giving me privacy as I stripped down to my underclothes and slipped under the covers. When I was settled, she turned back, a soft smile on her face.

"I'm too tired to head back to Ehrmich tonight," she said, starting to undress herself. "Besides, I need to make sure you get some rest."

I watched, mesmerized, as she shed her uniform, revealing the smooth, pale skin beneath. She caught me staring and smirked. "If you try and get frisky with me in your state, I'll tie you down," she teased.

"Promises, promises," I muttered, earning a chuckle from her.

She slipped into the bed beside me, her body a warm presence against my side. Despite the exhaustion weighing on me, I found myself hyper-aware of every point where our bodies touched.

"Get some sleep, Levi," she murmured, her breath warm against my neck. "We'll deal with everything else in the morning."

As I drifted off, lulled by the steady rhythm of Evelyn's breathing, I couldn't help but think about how much had changed since our first meeting in the underground.