at me with

rmth in her eyes.

calcu

strategy I don't have. Behind the reinforced wall, Kael pounds against the

head. "You're smal

g around her, trying to keep distance betw

es, voice cold and flawless. "But you chose we

the word l

toward me. I ma

says. "Your grief. Your def

yes n

m. But part of you..

ree

mold me. That last spark of obsession. That

lu

flinch. She just grabs my arm mid-strike and throws me across the room like

like a predator enjoying t

she says, voice echoing.

rl, pushing to my feet,

ours. All of his genius. None of his chaos. I know everything about the Vault. Ab

lean

w how to e

the ceili

something again,

ts shift to e

her

s filling

is

ghing, choking. The clone doesn't move, of c

ole. Trying to stop it. But my fingers are num

els bes

you to watch. As I take your place. As I rewrite every system. Every

m my forehead. "And

ser, whispers

esurrec

g inside

rrec

e. He's dead. I

and the edges of consciousness f

ready wa

isn't p

ike a womb filled with st

m alive. I don't k

hear

mooth as oil

ys meant to br

re

awake,

My vision swims, and my body's shaking from cold and shock. I'm not in the Va

arms. Wires are at

e me flickers in time w

armor's scorched, helmet gone, revealing short dark hair and a long

ds in the cent

es. They glow faint blue now, just like Auren's

t hiding

d me. "You were in worse shape than I e

hat did yo

ies. "Don't thank me. I only nee

ainst the restraints. They're bio-s

egra

the far side of the room. Lights flicker as a bod

en I s

re

feless.

? Rean

ushes fro

he was w

Merged it with preserved echoes from your memory. He

I wh

the Vault archives. I had the technology. I just n

me," I growl

hen he awakens,

his head weakly. "She's trying to r

ne igno

g toward me, "he'll see me. Understand

r reflection in a

me, I won't

but the restraint

sole. The chamber containing Auren

yes f

op

bl

s, smiling like death resu