Chapter 26 · After Ash

"Open the gates or lock them down." Mira stood three feet away, arms crossed, dried blood still crusted on her knuckles. "Which is it?"

I was still on my knees. The ash had stopped burning through my skin maybe five minutes ago. Carson had his hand on my shoulder—steadying me or keeping me from running, I couldn't tell. The core screen hovered at eye level, pulsing soft blue.

"Give her a second," Carson said.

"We don't have a second." Mira stepped closer. "Lower ward's already talking. They saw the tide pull back. They saw the walls light up. They're asking who's in charge now."

"No one's in charge," I said. My voice came out hoarse. "The core's stable. That's it."

"That's not it." She crouched down, met my eyes. "You ate the crown. You stopped the tide. You saved us. Now tell us how to live."

"I'm not—"

"Don't say you're not royal." Her voice went flat. "I watched you bleed black for three minutes straight. I watched the city bow to you. So did everyone on that wall."

I looked at Carson. He didn't move his hand. Didn't say anything.

"They want to leave," Mira said. "Half of them.