Chapter 14 · The Price of Seven Lives

Mira shoved a data slate across the table so hard it nearly cracked the edge.

"You've got six lives left," she said. "The archive's got a seven-lock encryption. Do the math."

Nora caught the slate before it slid off. Her wrist still throbbed where the rune mark had burned out an hour ago. The skin looked normal now, but she could feel the absence like a missing tooth.

"I can crack it," Nora said.

"With what? Your winning personality?" Mira leaned back, arms crossed. "The archive's rigged to kill anyone who trips the fail-safe. You're not a codebreaker. You're a medic who keeps dying."

"Then get me someone who can crack it."

"There is no one." Mira's voice dropped. "The archive was built by the Council. They made sure only one person could open it without triggering the wipe protocol."

Nora looked up. "Who."

"Kael."

Of course. Of course it was Kael.

Nora set the slate down carefully, like it might explode. "So what's the problem? Get him in here."

"He doesn't know the archive exists." Mira stood, pacing the narrow intel room. The walls were lined with maps and intercept logs, all marked in Mira's tight handwriting.