Chapter 17 · The Engine's Anchor

"Stay with me." Lyra's hand slid beneath Rowan's neck and lifted his head before he could lose the floor again. Blood filled his mouth. Dust rained from the cracked ceiling. Blue-white lines crawled across the walls, flashing like dying veins.

"What happened?" Rowan tried to speak, but his throat gave him a dry rasp.

"You synchronized with the core." Lyra's braid had come loose. A cut ran across her temple. She looked exhausted, furious, and scared enough to bite through steel. "You died for three heartbeats."

Rowan blinked at her. "I did what?"

Behind her, the ancient control core pulsed in the center of the chamber. Its crystal rings had turned crimson. Symbols raced through the air above it.

FINAL NETWORK AUTHENTICATION: ACCEPTED.

Rowan's stomach dropped. "Severin."

"He was waiting for the grid to recognize you." Lyra hauled him farther from the core. "You gave him the last permission he needed."

The chamber doors slammed shut. Metal screamed somewhere beyond the stone. The whole sky-farm lurched sideways, throwing tools across the floor. A clay pot shattered against the wall, and black soil scattered before gravity dragged it down.

Rowan shoved himself upright. Pain burst behind his eyes. The chamber vanished.