The spiral staircase felt different on the way up. As Lyra ascended behind Lucian, she realized the silence of the Womb of the World had been replaced by a low, constant hum—not in her ears, but in the marrow of her bones. It was the rhythm of Lucian's heart, beating in perfect, terrifying synchronization with her own.
"Stop," Lucian whispered, his hand going to the hilt of his blade as they neared the surface.
Lyra didn't just hear his command; she felt the sudden spike of adrenaline in his veins. It hit her like a jolt of electricity, making her breath hitch. Through the tether, his alertness became her alertness. His tension became her own.
"They're directly above us," she breathed, her eyes glowing a steady, haunting violet. "Six of them. I can feel their light... it feels like needles against my skin."
Lucian turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "You can feel their positions?"
