Nadia was snapped out of her daze by Astrid's desperate cry.
"MAMA! HELP MIKA! PLEASE!"
She looked down at the boy in her daughter's arms and her blood ran cold.
She had seen wounds before. She had seen battlefields, massacres, the aftermath of war.
But this? This was a five-year-old child whose body had been pushed far beyond any limit a human should be able to endure.
Nadia didn't hesitate.
She grabbed both children, one in each arm and dove through the portal.
—
The other side was chaos.
The rest of the family, officers, medical personnel—they had all been waiting for any news, any sign, any hope.
And the moment Nadia emerged with Astrid in her arms, the room erupted.
"ASTRID!"
"She's back!"
"Oh thank the gods, she's back!"
Yelena rushed forward first, tears streaming down her face.
Fauna was right behind her, already reaching for the girl, along with the other two battle angels.
Astrid's sisters were there too.
