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I hear movement behind me.

"Caffeine before sunrise?"

Carys. I turn. She stands in the doorway wearing an oversized sweater, her hair messy from sleep. For one dangerous second, I forget everything else. Then I remember who she is. The woman who survived 15 years without me. The woman who still thinks needing help is a personal failure.

"You're awake."

"So are you."

"I always wake early."

She glances at the equipment.

"You didn't sleep."

It isn't a question.

"No."

Her expression changes. Concern.

She hides it quickly. She's still terrible at hiding things from me.

"You should."

"Not until I know the perimeter is secure."

"It isn't."

She gestures toward the monitors.

"That's what you're thinking, isn't it?"

I don't answer.

"Rhett."

She steps closer.

"You're not going to outwork this."

"I can try."

"And that's exactly the problem."

I almost argue. Then stop. Because she's right. Again. I return my attention to the screen.

"There are weak points."

"Where?"

I show her the map.

"The entity pushes hardest here."

She studies it.

"Why?"