The voice came again.
Rina spun toward Mira. "Stop talking."
Mira blinked. "I didn't say anything."
"You told me to open the barrier ."
"I didn't."
Markus turned toward Ren. "You said flank it from the left."
Ren shook his head. "I said hold position."
"No. You didn't."
"I didn't speak."
Rina pressed both hands against her temples. "Someone told me to push the stone cradle."
Nobody had.
The baby cried, a wet rasping sound. Elara clutched him tighter against her chest, still half conscious, still bleeding through the bandages.
"Who said that?" Rin demanded.
"I heard Markus say bury the entrance," Rina whispered.
Markus froze. "I never."
"You did." Rina looked at him with real fear now. "Your voice. Inside my ear."
The mimic stood beyond the cave mouth. Still as stone, chains dripping down its stolen face. It did not move. Did not speak aloud.
But the voices kept coming.
Rin heard Caelus say push harder.
