Chapter 25 · The Second Lock

"Take your hand off the core, Kade." Ayla slammed her palm against his chest and shoved. "Now."

He barely moved. The black crystal under his hand pulsed like a second heart, throwing red light across his face. His fingers had sunk into the glowing surface up to the knuckles.

"You want me to let go?" His voice came out rough. "It just gave me the memories back."

"It gave you a hook." Ayla grabbed his wrist. Heat burned through his sleeve. "And it's pulling you in."

The chamber shook hard enough to throw dust from the ceiling. Behind them, the archive shelves split apart. Old ledgers crashed onto the metal floor, pages skittering through the red glow.

Kade looked past her at the crystal. His jaw tightened.

"I saw it," he said. "The district. The fire. You."

Ayla's grip slipped for half a second. "What did you see?"

"You were holding the core with me."

Another pulse hit the room. Kade's knees buckled.

Ayla caught him before his head struck the floor. His full weight dropped against her, hot and shaking.