Chapter 13 · The Name She Wasn't Supposed to Hear

The next locked door slammed open somewhere below them.

Nora flinched so hard her shoulder hit the concrete wall. The ring lay on the floor between her boots, still pulsing like a second heart. Each beat sent a red glow through the cracks in the old platform.

Behind her, Caden sucked in a sharp breath.

"Don't touch it," he said.

"You don't get to tell me what to touch anymore."

Another door opened. Metal screamed through the tunnel, then something heavy crashed in the dark.

Nora stared at the ring. Her fingers still burned from ripping it off. The heat had climbed up her arm, shoved under her skin, and answered the thing buried under Ninth Station. She could still feel that answer in her chest.

Milo.

The image Selene had shown them kept playing behind her eyes. Milo strapped beside the black core. His body jerking against the restraints. His eyes shining gold.

He had looked straight at the camera.

Straight at her.

Then Selene had smiled and called her Ashborn.

"We have to move," Caden said.

Nora spun on him. "You knew about this place. You knew the ring was tied to the core.