Chapter 31 · Don't let go

She pulled him toward the cradle. His shoulder pressed against hers. Her hair brushed his cheek every time she turned her head. Even with alarms screaming and gunfire cracking beyond the door, he noticed the steady pressure of her hand against his side.

"Don't let go," he said.

Her grip tightened. "Wasn't planning to."

The words hit him harder than they should have.

The Seed opened.

Not like a machine. Like a flower made of black plates, each section peeling back to reveal a core of molten gold. The light poured over Sila's face first, then Kael's.

A voice spoke inside his skull.

ADMINISTRATOR CONFIRMED.

Sila flinched. "What did it say?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"It called me administrator."

Her hand slipped from his waist.

Kael caught it before she could step away.

"Don't."

"You hid that from me."

"I just heard it."

"You knew something was in there."

"I knew there was a lock. Not this. Not any of this."

"Your eyes—"

"Don't look at them."

"Why?"

"Because I don't know what you'll see."

The next pulse hit them both.

Sila's fingers locked around his.

The vault vanished.

Kael stood in a field of white static.