Chapter 23 · Ash Oath

"You want her alive?" Carson shoved the crown into my hands. "Put it on."

The metal burned. Not hot. Worse. Like it recognized something in my blood and wanted to crawl inside.

Mira coughed. Red bubbled at the corner of her mouth. The core's interface flickered over her chest: SACRIFICE INCOMPLETE. ROYAL AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED.

"I don't know what it'll do," I said.

"Neither do I." Carson cut the ropes around Mira's wrists. "But she's got maybe two minutes, and the core won't listen to anyone without Ashford blood."

The crown felt heavier than it should. Ash flaked off the blackened metal, drifting down like snow. I could see the inscription now, worn almost smooth: *By fire, by blood, by ash reborn.*

"My father wore this," I said.

"Your father killed half the city with it." Carson's voice stayed flat. "You going to finish the job, or you going to save one person?"

I looked at Mira. Her eyes were open. She tried to speak but only managed a wet sound.

"Evelyn." Carson didn't touch me, but he stepped close enough that I felt the heat off his shoulder. "I need an answer.