The chamber had gone silent after the threat.
Silent, but not still.
A soft, rhythmic glow began beating inside the pedestal. Slow. Inevitable. Almost gentle. Like a heartbeat that did not belong to anyone breathing in the room.
Silver light pulsed through the cracks where the metal had opened, illuminating the object nestled inside.
A seed.
Small. Smooth. Metallic. About the size of a closed fist. It pulsed in perfect rhythm with the thud of my own heart.
My pulse.
Its pulse.
The same.
My breath hitched. Beau’s hand landed immediately on my lower back. Jack moved a half step in front of me without thinking.
The seed pulsed again.
Sophie reached the chamber at last, breath catching in her throat the instant she saw the glow. Her face drained of color.
“Oh my god,” she whispered
