Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. The creatures remained frozen above them, heads lowered toward the floor as though awaiting instructions. The entire stairwell felt suspended between moments.

Rowan swallowed hard.

"That's a hell of a conversation starter."

To her surprise, amusement flickered briefly across the woman's face.

"You're calmer than I expected."

"I'm not calm."

"No," Jess agreed immediately. "She's doing the thing where she's terrified and sarcastic at the same time."

"Thank you, Jess."

"You're welcome."

The woman watched the exchange carefully.

Then her attention returned to Rowan.

"Interesting."

Rowan groaned.

"There it is again."

"What?"

"The cryptic observation thing."

A faint smile touched the woman's lips. For the first time, Rowan noticed she didn't seem offended by anything. Not Corvin's hostility. Not Jess's commentary. Not even Malric glaring at her like he was considering murder. Everything seemed to amuse her. Everything except Rowan. When she looked at Rowan, there was something else. Something heavier.

Corvin stepped slightly forward.

"If you're going to say something, say it."

The warmth disappeared from the woman's expression instantly. For a moment the stairwell felt colder.

"You always were impatient."

"And you've always enjoyed hearing yourself talk."

Lucien sighed.

"Children."

Corvin and the woman both looked at him.

Lucien raised his hands.

"I'm older than both of you. You're children."

Jess blinked.

"Okay. That's the most upsetting thing I've heard all night."

Malric rubbed a hand across his face.

"Can we focus?"

The building trembled beneath them. Concrete groaned somewhere below. For the first time the woman's attention shifted briefly toward the city beyond the walls. Concern flickered across her face. Gone almost immediately. But Rowan saw it. So did Lucien. His expression darkened. The woman noticed. Of course she noticed.

"You felt it."

It wasn't a question.

Lucien nodded once.

"I did."

Rowan looked between them.

"Felt what?"

Nobody answered. Again.

Her patience finally snapped.

"No."

The word echoed through the stairwell. Everyone looked at her.

"We are not doing this anymore."

Silence followed. Even the creatures seemed to pause. Rowan pointed at the woman.

"You show up in my head."

Then Lucien.

"You apparently know what's happening."

Then Corvin.

"You clearly know more than you've told me."

Finally she gestured toward the entire stairwell.

"And there are nightmare monsters crawling all over the building while something under Houston is waking up."

She folded her arms.

"So somebody is going to start explaining things."

To her surprise, the woman smiled. Not amused. Proud.

Like Rowan had passed some sort of test.

"There you are."

Rowan nearly screamed.

"Stop saying that."

Jess nodded.

"Please stop saying that."

The woman laughed softly. Then her expression settled into something more serious.

"The city should not be speaking to you."

The words landed heavily. Nobody interrupted.

"The bond should not have survived."

Corvin's jaw tightened.

"The awakening should not have happened this soon."

Lucien closed his eyes briefly. Rowan caught it. The guilt. The reaction was small. Almost invisible. But it was there. And suddenly she knew. Lucien knew something. Something important.

"You knew."

Every eye turned toward her.

Rowan stared directly at him.

"You knew this was possible."

Lucien didn't answer immediately.

Which was answer enough. The silence stretched. Heavy. Dangerous.

Finally he exhaled.

"I knew it was a possibility."

Corvin took a step toward him.

"A possibility?"

The anger in his voice echoed through the stairwell.

Lucien held his ground.

"I didn't know it would happen."

"You knew enough."

"I knew a theory."

The temperature in the stairwell seemed to drop another ten degrees. The woman watched both men quietly. Like she'd seen this argument before. Maybe many times.

Rowan looked between them.

"What theory?"

Nobody answered. Again. She was officially going to lose her mind. The whispering returned suddenly. Louder. Closer. The voices pressed against the edges of her thoughts. Not words this time. Feelings. Urgency. Movement. Fear. Something was happening beneath the city. Something big. Her knees nearly buckled. Corvin caught her instantly. The voices quieted. Not gone. Just distant and manageable. The woman's eyes widened slightly. For the first time since appearing, she looked genuinely surprised. Then she looked at Corvin, and smiled.

A slow knowing smile.

"Oh."

Nobody liked that. Especially Rowan.

"Oh what?"

The woman ignored her. Her gaze remained fixed on Corvin.

"That's new."

Corvin's expression darkened.

"What is?"

The smile deepened.

"You aren't just protecting her."

Silence. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke. Jess looked between them slowly. Then toward Malric. Then back again.

"Oh my God."

Rowan closed her eyes.

"Please don't."

"No, because I think I just figured something out."

"Jess."

"You are absolutely in love with him."

The entire stairwell froze. Even the creatures seemed confused. Rowan wanted the building to collapse. Immediately. Corvin looked equally horrified. Which somehow made it worse. The woman laughed. Actually laughed. The sound echoed through the stairwell. For the first time all night, it sounded genuinely happy. Then the building shook. Violently. A roar exploded through Houston. Not distant this time. Not beneath the city. Closer. Much closer. The woman's laughter stopped immediately. Every trace of amusement vanished. Lucien's face went pale. Malric swore. Corvin pulled Rowan behind him.

And for the first time since she'd appeared, the woman looked afraid.

"They found us."

The words barely left her mouth before something slammed into the lower levels of the building. Hard enough to shake the entire skyscraper.