The next wave did not rush; they were already there, positioned across the street with deliberate spacing that made it clear every distance had been measured and fixed before Julian and Lucian stepped into it. No one moved without reason, and no movement was wasted.
Lucian did not slow, his attention sweeping once across the formation as he took in angles, timing, and the narrow gaps that still existed between them. "Stay close," he said, his voice even but firm.
Julian did not answer, but he stayed where he was, close enough that the distance between them never widened.
The air carried weight again, heavier than before, pressing across the space in a way that narrowed their path and made movement feel restricted. It did not feel like a chase anymore; it felt arranged.
