Ryn was moving before Kharvos hit the floor.
He turned on his heel and sprinted back across the chamber, boots splashing through shallow water as steam continued to drift lazily overhead.
"Fritz!"
Amelia was already there, skidding to her knees beside him. She grabbed Fritz's shoulder, then his wrist, eyes sharp and focused.
"Hey—hey, stay with us," she muttered, though his eyes were already closed.
Jay slid in a second later, hands glowing immediately as he pressed them against Fritz's chest. The healing light flared brighter than before, steadier this time.
"He's alive," Jay said quickly. "Pulse is weak, but steady. The blade missed anything vital."
Ryn exhaled, tension finally slipping from his shoulders in a single, shaky breath.
Taylor knelt on Fritz's other side, chains retracting back around her arms as she scanned the chamber once more, making sure nothing else was coming.
For the first time since entering Central—
They had breathing room.
Then Ryn heard it.
