Chapter 7 · Who Called Ghost?

Keira stared at the burner screen in Rian's hand.

GHOST SEVEN. CONFIRM YOU'RE ALIVE.

The words sat there like a landmine she'd just stepped on. No one had called her that in five years. No one was supposed to know that name anymore. She'd buried it under forty-seven layers of fake IDs and burned safehouses and one very official death certificate.

"Who sent that?" Her voice came out flat.

Rian was still on the floor where she'd left him, back against the corridor wall, blood running down from his split lip. He looked at the screen. Looked at her. "You tell me."

"I don't know what that is."

"Yeah?" He tilted the burner so the light hit her face. "Because you just tore open a reinforced door to get to me. That door's rated for Valkan strength. You're human."

She didn't move. Didn't blink.

"Or you're supposed to be," Rian added.

Footsteps echoed from the east stairwell. Multiple boots. Heavy.

Keira grabbed the burner out of Rian's hand and crushed it under her heel in one motion. Lithium cell popped. Sparks scattered across the tile.

"Get up," she said.

"You just—"

"Now."

Rian dragged himself upright.