Chapter 70
The cavern still trembled with the echo of collapsing stone and distant water.
“It’s good you’re alright,” Ares murmured, his voice scraped raw with relief, like gravel dragged across concrete.
“Let’s go home p>
Home. The word didn’t sound soft coming from him. It sounded like a promise carved in iron.
“Ares.” Lara rose in one fluid motion, steady despite the dust clinging to her hair and the streak of blood at her temple. She pointed to a thin crack in the stone wall — barely wide enough to notice if you weren’t looking for it. “We’ll use that exit p>
He followed her gaze. One sharp nod.
No argument.
He handed Shay back to her carefully, like she was glass.
Then he turned on his guards, “Move. Back to the waterfalls p>
Boots scraped against rock as they shifted into formation.
“Sis… how did you find this place?” His eyes narrowed. He shot a look at Liam. “No explorer ever mapped a cave system here p>
Liam swept his flashlight across the jagged walls. The beam caught on darker tunnels twisting into blackness — veins of stone leading who-knew-where.
“I stumbled onto it this morning,” Lara said. “It’s deeper than it looks. That tunnel over there branches off. Leads to another chamber — away from the river p>
“Sis,” Logan cut in quietly, urgency sharpening his voice, “let’s get out first. Ares already called in a helicopter p>
Lara stopped.
“Wait,” she said. “Suspend it p>
Her tone shifted. No tremor. No relief.
Just a command.
It wasn’t the voice of a woman who’d just been rescued.
It was the voice of someone used to giving orders in blood and smoke.
“It will alert the enemy p>
Silence settled heavy between them.
Liam studied her, seeing something new in her expression.
“Hold them off,” she continued evenly. “We talk when we’re outside. I’ll bring Shay and Sandro out first p>
No one argued.
Lara slipped Sandro into the narrow opening in the rock. Strong hands waited outside, pulling him through.
Then Shay.
Then Lara herself slid through the slit without hesitation, dust trailing behind her like smoke.
Outside, sunlight cut harsh and bright against the dark cave mouth.
Ares had already summoned a military doctor. The man moved quickly, checking Shay first, then Sandro. Aside from a few scrapes and bruises, they were unharmed.
“Boss, you should be treated too,” the doctor said carefully. “Your back is bleeding p>
Lara, mid-conversation with the Norse brothers, paused.
Bleeding?
Was he hurt by the fall?
Ares stood there in the open daylight, shirt gone, bronze skin catching the sun. His back — broad, powerful — was marred by fresh bruises blooming purple and blue, each one the size of a saucer. Scratches cut across muscle hardened by years of training.
The cave floor had been jagged. She knew that.
And he’d taken a fall to save her.
“Mommy, come quickly,” Shay called, tugging at her sleeve. “You should put the ointment on Daddy. He saved you after all p>
The soldiers nearby — rigid, disciplined — flicked their gazes toward Lara. Questions unspoken but loud.
Wife?
The military doctor cleared his throat awkwardly and handed Lara the tube.
For a heartbeat, she hesitated.
This was dangerous territory. Not physically but emotionally.
She inhaled and took the ointment.
Just consider it as my way of thanking him. I would be the one bruised if not for him.
She squeezed the cool cream onto her fingers and pressed it gently against the angry swell of skin. Her touch was light at first, then firmer, spreading the medicine over the bruises. She massaged it in slow, controlled circles.
She was careful. Too careful.
Ares’ muscles went taut under her hands.
Heat coiled between them — sharp, unwanted, undeniable.
She froze.
“Don’t overthink it,” he said quietly, not turning around. “I didn’t correct Shay. I didn’t want her upset. Not now p>
Professional. Reasonable. A clean explanation.
“Don’t worry,” Lara replied. Her voice was smooth and detached.
Like none of this touched her.
Ares’ jaw tightened.
He didn’t turn around, but his frown deepened.
Because the indifference in her voice, felt colder than the water in that plunge pool.
“By the way,” Lara said evenly, as though they were discussing logistics over coffee instead of blood and gunfire, “I heard you called in a helicopter to rescue us p>
Ares adjusted his sleeves, eyes sharp. “I did. Any concern p>
She held his gaze. “We can leave on foot. Less noise. Less visibility. No reason to announce to the entire Ourea that we survived p>
A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“On foot?” His tone hardened. “That’s hours through rough terrain. Shay and Sandro are exhausted. They’ve been through a lot already.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “And I have urgent matters waiting in the capital. I need to be there. Now p>
Lara finished capping the ointment and handed it back to the military doctor.
Ares pulled his shirt down over his bruised back, fabric stretching over battered muscle like armor sealing into place.
She didn’t argue. She turned away.
Liam and Logan stood near a rock, scanning coordinates on a digital tablet. Lara walked toward them with purpose, dust crunching under her sneakers.
“The man who helped us last night,” she said quietly, “told me that if I survived, I should report everything to the military. Don’t give the rebels time to disappear and regroup p>
Liam’s brows lifted slightly. “He said that p>
“Yes p>
She unfolded a map from inside her jacket. The paper was creased, edges worn — handled more than once.
“Here.” She pointed to the center. “This X marks the tunnel entrance p>
Her finger slid across the map.
“And this one — this is their stronghold p>
The air shifted.
Even the soldiers nearby leaned in subtly.
“If the helicopter is coming anyway,” she continued, voice steady and strategic, “why not use the noise as bait? Deploy troops toward the stronghold at the same time we’re extracted? They’ll panic. They’ll assume we’re only being rescued and not attacking them. Once they realize it, they’ll retreat and take the tunnel p>
She tapped the first X again.
“You set your ambush here p>
Logan studied the map, eyes narrowing in thought.
“They’re heavily armed,” Lara added. “High-powered rifles. Possibly explosives. Whoever leads them isn’t reckless — they’re calculating. Don’t underestimate them p>
Silence stretched for a beat.
Then Logan let out a low breath.
“Sis… if I didn’t know you grew up in the countryside, I’d swear you were raised in a military compound p>
The words hit harder than he knew.
Lara stilled.