"They need us. Shadow wielders who can bridge the gap between demon and human, who understand corruption from the inside, who might be willing to consider that the traditional story isn't the only option." She took his hands. "I think tomorrow isn't about infiltrating enemy territory. I think it's about choosing whether to help demons rewrite their story or forcing them back into the antagonist role one more time."
Damien's mind was racing. The Second Core was analyzing implications, weighing risks, calculating outcomes. But underneath that, something simpler was asking whether he believed her.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
