Page 81 of Zenith Tower

“Marrow’s report will leave the Tower tonight,” she said. “It will say the incomplete Tether resisted permanent suppression while you remained in proximity. The Council will treat that as evidence that the third bond is imminent.”

“What will they do?” I asked.

Her chin lifted.

“They will stop trying to alter the line while you are together.”

She looked at Hale’s hand around mine.

“They will separate you instead.”

Then she resumed walking.

Hale kept my hand in his as we walked. The unfinished line stayed warm beneath his palm long after the review chamber disappeared behind us.

Astra

Two stewards stood outside Hale’s door before breakfast.

They had taken up position sometime before the lamps brightened, one on either side of the frame, close enough that no one could enter without brushing against them. Hale remained inside. I had not seen him since they returned us from the failed severance, though the unfinished line stayed faintly warm at my wrist.

The bruise left by the steward’s hand had darkened overnight. My thumb found it before I noticed. I forced my hand down.

Caspian came out of his room fastening his cuff. His gaze moved from the guards to my wrist.

“How long?” he asked.

“They were here when I woke.”

Kieran’s door opened behind him. He took in the stewards. “Marrow’s made up his mind about something.”

The administrator arrived before the meal hatches opened.

She carried a single folded page stamped with the Council’s seal. No reader accompanied her. Marrow did not either, but more stewards waited at the junction behind her.

“All of you,” she said. “Astra’s room. The door remains open.”

One of Hale’s guards unlocked his door.

Hale emerged with his sleeves fastened and his Mark hidden. The dark band from the restraint showed below his right cuff. His eyes found me first. Neither of us moved toward the other.

We entered my room beneath the stewards’ watch. Caspian took the chair. Kieran sat on the end of the bed. Hale remained near the wall, keeping the width of the room between us.

The administrator handed me the directive.

By order of the Council: the pending tether between subjects A. Verita and J. Hale is classified an imminent convergence risk. Direct physical contact and unsupervised proximity between the named subjects are prohibited. They will be housed in separate residential corridors pending final determination.

Subject A. Verita’s demonstrated influence over completed bonded Marks is classified a priority containment matter. Steward Marrow is authorized to isolate A. Verita from bonded persons, restrict her contact with other residents, and order additional reviews without panel approval.

I read it again.

The language remained bloodless. No mention of the silver leads, the burns on Hale’s arm, or the reader’s hands shaking when the draw reversed. The Council had reduced what happened toimminent convergence riskand granted Marrow more authority for failing to stop it.

“They aren’t authorizing another severance,” I said.

“No,” the administrator replied. “Marrow’s report made clear that attempting it while you are together strengthens the response.”

“So they’ll keep us apart until the line dies on its own.”