Chapter 8 · The Voice Under Her Skin

"Athena." Noah's voice crackled through the earpiece wedged in the dead merc's ear. "That's what they called you, right? Project Athena."

I swung the gun toward Iris.

She didn't move. Hands still up, blood from the cut on her temple dripping down her jaw. Her eyes locked on mine, wide but not surprised.

"Cade," she said. Quiet. Careful.

"He's lying," I said.

"Am I?" Noah sounded like he was smiling. "Ask her about the link. The one under her skin. Right side, base of the skull. They buried it deep. She probably doesn't even feel it anymore."

Iris's breath hitched.

I kept the barrel steady. "Turn around."

"Cade, listen—"

"Turn. Around."

She turned. Slow. Her hands stayed up, fingers trembling now. I stepped closer, close enough to smell the sweat and adrenaline on her, and pushed her hair aside with my free hand.

There. A faint scar, maybe two inches long, pale against her skin. Surgical. Clean.

"What the hell is that?"

"It's not what you think," she said.

"Then tell me what it is."

She didn't answer.

Noah laughed through the earpiece. "It's a neural uplink. Prototype. Your girl's been running dual-layer comms this whole time.