Page 61 of Ignite the Infernos

She taps the screen and it flickers, which seems to surprise the Healer. She taps it again and it freezes. Annoyance flashes across her face, and she swipes across the screen impatiently until the image settles back in place. I don’t know if I want to scream or rock in the corner, but the anticipation is about to do me in.

Just as Ramirez turns back to me, the image next to her dissolves into a screen full of glowing data that, line by line, starts to disappear. I watch a black cursor steadily eat the code, confused as to whether or not this is supposed to be happening. Ramirez gestures toward the holoscreen again, but when she sees what’s happening, she dashes for the tablet across from her and starts typing frantically.

“What? No!” she growls, her alarmed gaze bouncing from the tablet to the holoscreen.

Murmured curses and frustrated growls slip out of the Healer as she works to fix whatever is obviously glitching. Then, all of a sudden, the lights in the room dim, just as a huge bolt of lightning strikes outside. My head follows the flash just as thunder crashes through the keep. Unexpectedly, the force of the booming clap passes through me, and I gasp, having never felt the sensation before. Aeson moves closer, but my attention snags on that same sapphire-blue dragon. Only, it’s no longer dancing in the deluge; it’s now hovering in place, and I swear its gaze is locked on me.

“Friend of yours?” I ask Aeson while goose bumps climb their way down my limbs.

“No,” he answers warily, and another massive bolt of lightning strikes just outside the tower. Suddenly, rain pelts the barrier even harder, making it difficult to see past the onslaught. And then the lights go out altogether.

“Away from the window,” Aeson orders quietly, and I back up instantly, not liking his alarmed tone one bloody bit.

The gloomy light from the window paints everything in ash and shadow, and another bolt of lightning flashes across Aeson’s Wing as they silently prowl closer and surround us. Aeson positions me behind him, and I pluck an XD pistol from behind my back and arm it, ready for whatever the fuck is going down.

“Lights out only in the infirmary. No reported breaches beyond the hack,” Ogdan supplies.

“Do we know where it’s coming from?” Aeson queries evenly.

“It’s pinging right now, but they’ll narrow it down,” Karis answers.

“Everyone safe?” Aeson asks, and I know he’s asking about his father and brother.

“Safe,” Ogdan assures with a nod.

“I take it power outages aren’t a thing here?” I question while scanning the patch of sky I can still see through the window. No one answers me, but their silence is answer enough.

The lights flicker once, twice, and then turn back on.

“It’s gone,” the Healer states, aghast. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s all just . . . gone!”

“What is?” Jori questions, moving in her direction.

“Her file,” she replies, astounded. “The scioness’s file, and not just the one from today—the data that was compiled from the hospital before, the notes of her first healing from you, Jori—it’s all been wiped.”

Foreboding drops heavy in my stomach.

“Has anything like this ever happened before?” Farrow asks, his eyes surveying the room.

“I suppose it could be a glitch from the storm, and maybe because I had her file open it was affected, but . . .”

“Anything else missing or corrupted?” Aeson demands, his tone sharp.

Ogdan takes a moment to scroll through his com, and when he lifts his eyes, they land on me instead of Aeson, which sends all kinds of alarms ringing in my head.

“No, just Ever’s information seems to be targeted, exactly like what happened with the Oric when we looked through her devices.”

I reel back. That’s the first I’ve heard of that. I learned that Tahir was missing when I spied on Lorn and Aeson in their father’s office, but they didn’t mention anything about my information being targeted or missing.

“Are you hacking us?” Aeson demands, spinning so he can fix me with a glare.

I gesture at the distance between us. “I’m literally right here. How the fuck would I be pulling that off?” I point out, suddenly pissed.

“You know what I mean. Are the other Syphons stealing your data? Did they kill the Oric?” he barks.

“Wait. She’s dead?” I demand, bewildered by another development I knew jack shit about. I search Aeson’s face for answers, knowing it’s a waste of time but unable to stop myself.

“Answer me, Ever,” Aeson growls, and I debate aiming my pistol at his knee and taking a shot.