For three weeks, they searched for alternatives.
Ancient texts. Modern magic theory. Consultations with every magical expert they could find. Aldric and the Silvermoon pack scoured their archives. Even Victor Steele, from his supervised position, researched bloodline magic.
Every source said the same thing.
The anchor could only break with Kael's death.
Sera refused to accept it. Worked eighteen-hour days looking for loopholes. For exceptions. For anything that would save him.
Meanwhile, Valeria's operations grew. More bombings. More attacks on life extension clinics. More violence blamed on The Vigil. Public opinion was turning against them. The organization that had stopped The Eternity Project was now seen as terrorist sympathizers.
"We're losing control of the narrative," Ava reported during a strategy meeting. "Every attack is linked back to us. People think we're behind it. Or at least enabling it by allowing life extension to proceed."
