Chapter 18 · The Echo of a Lie

"Get your hands off him!"

Mara’s voice cracked like a whip. She didn't wait for the thing in the rift to blink. She lunged, her blade whistling in a silver arc. Steel sliced through the gray, translucent wrist pinning Rowan to the breach.

With a wet, static hiss, the creature yanked its limb back and vanished into the void.

Rowan slumped against the cold metal of the tunnel, chest heaving. The freezing pressure of those fingers still burned his skin. But that was nothing compared to the recording screaming in his head.

*I started this. I triggered the first return.*

Mara didn't help him up. She stood over him, the tip of her blade hovering an inch from his throat. Her eyes weren't just angry—they were devastated.

"Tell me it was a lie," she spat. "Tell me that voice wasn't yours, Rowan. Tell me you didn't burn this city to the ground just to play God with a clock."

Rowan looked up, vision blurring. "I don't... I don't remember. Mara, I swear, I have no idea what that recording is talking about."

"That's the problem!" she yelled, stepping closer. The heat of her fury radiated off her in waves.