2026-03-06 16:37:39
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CHAPTER 94
Zenna POV"Who?" the ethereal woman asked, though her tone made it seem that she already knew."Multiple people," Aires said, and is still reading. "A consortium. "Scientists, politicians, Watchers gone rogue." He looked up, his look haunted. "And they're still active. Still working. Still trying to finish what they started five hundred years ago.""Cross," the woman said. It wasn't a question."Cross is merely the latest flavor in a long line of drinks," Aires replied. "There have been others before him." Dozens of them, for centuries. They pass down the knowledge, the resources, the mission." He put the file down carefully as if it would explode. "Bringing Grimfall through isn't a side effect of their research. It's the goal."My mind was reeling.What the hell was there in those files? What had I almost delivered to Dr. Cross?Tiago had said Cross needed these documents to stop people from messing with his important work. But according to what this Aires person was saying, Cross
CHAPTER 93
Zenna POVMy phone buzzed. A text from Marcos: Where are you? Zayan's asking.Great. Perfect timing.I ignored it, got up, and brushed dust off my jeans. Maybe I was looking at this the wrong way. Maybe the case wasn't what I was supposed to find. Maybe there was something else going on here.I began my search of the rest of the room into filing cabinets, pulling out papers I didn't understand. Technical documents. Research notes. Names, dates, and coordinates that meant nothing to me.But it was something. More than the case in which I could not reachI picked up what looked important - papers with official letterheads, documents with multiple signatures, whatever looked like it might be important - and stuffed it into my backpack.At least I wouldn't go back empty-handed.Another text from Marcos:Seriously, where are you? He's freaking out.I needed to leave. Needed to get back before Zayan did something stupid like call the school or—Footsteps.Outside the warehouse.Multiple set
CHAPTER 92
Zenna POVSchool was stupid anyway.I'd figured that out around the third period, when Mrs. Henderson started droning on about the Revolutionary War like anyone actually cared about dead people from three hundred years ago. The world was ending- not literally, actually ending, not like in the big, bold way that people said it when they failed a test- and she was talking about the Boston Tea Party.So I left.It wasn't hard. I'd gotten good at slipping out without being noticed. The door to the side near the gym was always propped open because this was where the janitor smoked during his breaks. Nobody ever checked it. Nobody ever looked at anything if you looked like you belonged.And was good at looking like I belonged.It took forty minutes by bus to get to the warehouse district. I sat in the back, headphones in, with no music, just watching the city go by through dirty windows. Zayan would be losing his mind if he knew that I was cutting school. He'd ground me, I guess, or try to
CHAPTER 91
Author's POVShe closed her eyes and allowed herself to feel it. Really feel. All the fear she'd been carrying around - fear of her power, of failure, of letting everyone down. All the grief at seeing that girl die in the facility hallway. All the confusion about her grandmother, her mother, this family she'd never known existed.And underneath all of it -- deeper, stronger -- the loneliness. The gaping hole that was in her chest as long as she could remember. The surety that she was unwanted, unloved, and aloneExcept now she knew that wasn't the case. Her mother had loved her. Her grandmother had been looking for her. She had people.She had family.The fire in her palms responded and flickered to life. But instead of demanding that it take a specific shape, instead of forcing it into a ball and trying to aim, Eilish just . . . asked.Please, she thought. Help me. I need to hit that target. Can you help me?The fire pulsed once, warm and almost affectionate. Like a cat rubbing on her
CHAPTER 90
Author's POVEilish held the photograph to her chest, her entire body trembling with silent sobs. Sixteen years. Sixteen years of wondering if anybody had ever loved her. If she had ever mattered to anybody. If she was worth anything more than the checks for foster care.And here was proof. Right in her hands. Evidence that once, someone had loved her fiercely. Absolutely. Without question."You were cherished," Astoria said as she took a step closer. She hesitantly raised her hand as if she weren't sure touch would be welcome, and slowly placed her hand on Eilish's shoulder. "You are loved. By your mother, wherever her spirit dwells. By me, who never stopped looking for you. And--" she glanced back at the others at Rune and Wilder and the rest, "--by them. Your chosen family."The hole in Eilish's chest - the one that had been there for as long as she could remember, sharp and cutting and impossible to ignore - was still there. It would likely always be there. But something about thi
CHAPTER 89
Author's POVAstoria Aristarkh strode down the stairs with the same grace she'd shown yesterday, dressed today in dark slacks and a cream-colored blouse that probably cost more than everything in the Sanctum combined.Her white hair was pulled back from her face, revealing those high cheekbones, those pale eyes thatmissed nothing, yet revealed nothing.Two of her tactical team flanked her - different people from yesterday, but with the same professional competence, the same quiet deadliness."I do apologize for the unexpected visit," Astoria said when she arrived at the bottom of the stairs. "But I couldn't stay away."Aeris lowered his hand, and the fire went out. "We were just about to plan the file retrieval.""Yes," said Astoria and moved into the common area like she'd been invited. "About that. I have some thoughts."They huddled around the table--Aeris, Astoria, Rune, Kaladin, Zayan, Wilder, and Eilish. The two tactical team members standing around the doorway are silent and wa
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