Chapter 29 · The Voice That Wasn't Mine

"Stay calm."

I didn't say it.

The words came from every screen around the summit. From the dead speakers under the floor. From the little emergency panel blinking beside Kellan's head.

Then the whole tower answered in my voice.

"The Crownstack is safe. The Crownstack remembers. Nia Calder has agreed to help."

My burned hands tightened around the ember. It bit deeper. Silver memory-lines crawled over my wrists and slid under my sleeves.

The forbidden fire sat between my palms like somebody'd dug a piece of star out with a knife. White in the center. Red at the edges. Hot enough to make my teeth ache.

Across the control room, Veyra Sloane smiled.

"There," she said. "Do you hear it?"

Her voice was too calm. Too clean.

Behind her, the summit windows showed the city stacked below us. Twelve sealed districts. Twelve layers of lights, rails, towers, screens.

Every screen had my face.

My face blinked when I blinked.

My face smiled when I didn't.

"Turn it off," I said.

The city repeated me.

"Turn it off."

Millions of people said it back in my voice.

Elias staggered beside me.