Page 268 of Red Ruin

“I know.”I trained them myself.

She rolls her eyes.

We find Simms and a Deathguard squad milling in the bowl of the central pit. While waiting on their boss to resurrect, the Deathguard has been sharing their years of tomb-digging experience.

These days, I only think about Kevan to hope he takes his time rejoining the mortal world.

Reyes and his crew have come in clutch.

They’ve unearthed tons of crystals and weapons. We need the resources.

The Farguard was unofficially cut loose ages ago.

Now, we’re fully committed to going rogue.

I told Remy’s brother to fuck off, then smashed the Northern Legion’s orb.

“Commander!” Tan shouts.

The Sentinels part, respectfully making a path, but their hopeful soul-silks dance, trying to tempt my attention. No one’s anywhere close to rampaging, so I’m not compelled to reach out. I do pick up a buzzy energy, humming through the crowd.

I hurry forward.

As of yesterday, the core of the array was still flickering.

Now, the pattern lies dark and still.

Simms and Reyes crouch near something else.

The object is rounded and grey, but there’s no mistaking it for a rock. Those layered segments are obviously scales. While I gape, familiar, golden light ripples beneath its surface.

The energy source.

An egg?

The shell is big enough to house a human toddler.

But if that thing could anchor the lich king’s prison for centuries, I’m guessing it’s not about to hatch a harmless baby.

Have we learned fuckingnothing?

I scowl at the men. “Who put the creepy egg on top of the array?”

“We didn’t know it was an egg.” Reyes rubs the back of his neck. “It was mixed in with the debris.” After a day of digging, he’s stripped down to shorts with dust streaks clinging to his sweat. “Nothing happened anyway. It must be fossilized.”

He reaches to test his luck again.

“Don’t,” I bark. “No more touching. Everyone take three steps back.”

The Sentinels obey. I follow my own command, giving the suspicious egg room to breathe.

I’m not touching shit.

But the more I stare, the more it feels like I’m being watched. I frown at the subtle gold ripple moving under the shell. If I count between beats… “It has a pulse.”

“A pulse?” Tan’s voice climbs an extra octave.

“Make that six steps back,” Cherise mutters. Everyone retreats, except for me.

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