"Fine." Theresa's voice was steady, but her eyes carried a heavy resolve. She knew Firestone this time would be a hundred times more dangerous than the last. The gates had opened. The zombies were roaming free. If she stepped inside, she would have to carve her way through endless rivers of the dead. The journey was long. She could not drag an army across that distance. A handful of people would be useless. Too many would be impossible. If the local camp in Firestone offered support, then at least she would have one more shield beside her. Lucas watched her turn and lift Tania gently into her arms. His eyes dimmed with sorrow that he could not hide. Theron never saw the weight that bent her shoulders. He never noticed the scars she carried inside. Theresa had never asked for help. She had never begged anyone for relief. No matter how hopeless, no matter how deadly, she carried it all by herself. She forgot sometimes that she was still a young woman. She had cut her way through storms, through blood, through fire. Every step was grit, every day was teeth clenched against despair. But she did not need to fight the world alone. Lucas drew a deep breath. He stepped forward. His hand stretched toward her. "Theresa." "What is it?" His voice trembled with unspoken feeling. "Can you trust me?""What are you saying?" "Give me Tania. I swear on my life I will never fail her." Her eyes widened. Then her words exploded like thunder. "Are you out of your d*mn mind? You want to marry my aunt?" Lucas froze, stunned into silence. Her heart lurched. The shock rattled her. She spun away, clutching Tania to her chest. "We'll talk later!" She carried Tania to the car and sped back to her bunker. Theresa was always open to choices. But this came like lightning out of clear skies. She was not ready. Tania lay still, unconscious. Theresa had no right to decide for her. When Tania opened her eyes again, the choice would belong to her. If she wanted it, Theresa would support her. Theresa never interfered in private lives. If two people wanted each other, it was never her place to stop them. Yet the moment left her shaken. She stared at Tania's pale face and whispered with a bitter smile, "Aunt Tania, you still know how to turn heads." She carried her back into the bunker. This time, no risks would slip past her. All her people stayed inside. Sixteen dogs guarded the shelter alongside Tania. Outside, Kyle, Tyger, and Elias stood guard around the clock. Landon and others were pulled in as well. They blocked the entrance. None would pass.Tessa, the steward, controlled drones and radar, watching every corner. Not even a fly could break through. Theresa had stumbled once. She would not stumble again. She laid Tania down, safe. Then she gripped Quentin by the arm. The helicopter roared as its blades cut the air, carrying them toward Firestone. On the flight, she sifted through alliance reports. So much had shifted in so little time. After Theron seized Crestmont, Bennie had suggested signal towers in Branford and Crestmont, and one at the canyon edge. They now broadcasted alliance signals across the horizon. Distant bases had begun to respond. Even the three Ark Camps had reached back. Across the inland wilderness, more camps were discovered. But outside of Solan Camp, all the others were the kind she remembered from her last life. Fragile. Hungry. Barely surviving. Ansford gave her ground to stand. With the sea at her back and two cities as shields, she had a foothold. But inland camps were boxed in. Zombies pressed them from every side. There was no way out. The weak had already fallen. Evolved zombies swallowed them whole. Only the strongest endured, but they endured with misery. They lacked survival domains. They endured constant attacks. Worst of all, they starved without supplies. One report after another stacked high before her. Each begged for aid. Theresa read them all. She leaned back, her face grim. Then she touched her earpiece. Her voice was calm, yet firm. "Help them." Her warehouses overflowed. Her alliance produced more every day. To her, the goods meant nothing. But to others, those goods meant life. Shared with them, they would bind together. The Starborn Order was still the blade above her. It could fall at any moment. Her strength had to grow. "Send the supplies. Help whoever we can." Her voice rang clear. "Yes!" Lucas' voice came bright through the line. He moved at once. He reached out to the scattered bases. He planned helicopter drops of food and medicine. As he made the calls, a smile tugged at his lips. His brow lifted high, pride glowing in his eyes.