Chapter 25 · You want my memories? Fine. Take them. But if you hurt him—

She twisted in his hold. "You want my memories? Fine. Take them. But if you hurt him—"

"You won't remember enough to hate me."

"I'll remember your face."

"That's not how the grid works."

"Then make sure it does."

For the first time, Elias looked shaken.

Nora stepped closer until the front of her coat touched his. "You hear me? You don't get to decide what I lose. You don't get to cut pieces out of me and call it rescue. If you go into my memories, you bring me back every single one."

"I can't promise that."

"Then I won't let you try."

"Nora, your brother has maybe two minutes."

"And you have one minute to convince me."

He stared at her.

"You're impossible."

"You're welcome."

The grid groaned around them. Dust shook loose from the ceiling. Far beyond the sealed chamber, alarms started ringing through the underground station.

Elias looked toward the door, then back at her.

"My mother called me Ashen."

Nora blinked. "That's not a name."

"It was hers. She said I was born after the first heart-fire, when our house burned down. She thought the curse had left ash in my blood."

"And did it?"