Chapter 13 · The Origin Carrier

"Don't move. Not a fucking inch."

Mara's blade was cold against my throat. One twitch and I'd be bleeding out on the floor.

Her breathing was ragged, hot against my ear. We were both shaking. This wasn't the ruined city. No ash. No screaming sky. The air tasted like ozone and expensive perfume. The walls were polished obsidian, humming with a power that made my teeth ache.

"Mara, look at the clock," I choked out.

She didn't look. She pressed the knife harder, her knuckles white. "Who are you? Why the hell do you have his voice? Why are you wearing his face?"

"I'm him!"

I tried to shift. She slammed me back against the obsidian wall. The impact knocked the wind out of me. She was too close. I could smell the metallic tang of her armor and the sharp scent of sweat. Her eyes were wide, hunting for a lie in my pupils.

"Look at the damn clock, Mara!"

She flicked her gaze to the holographic display. The numbers were frozen. Thirteen hours. The countdown hadn't started. This was zero hour. The moment before the first collapse.

"We went back," I whispered. "Veyra didn't just reset us.