Page 182 of What We Become

FENRIR:

I’m sending you a hardening protocol. Isolate the external relay now, then patch every connected device by morning. If the interval compresses again, we may need to take the node offline entirely.

me:

Take me offline? That kills my access to⁠—

FENRIR:

Everything. Yes. That’s the point. A door that can’t be opened can’t be walked through.

me:

A door that can’t be opened also can’t be used by the people who need it.

Fenrir disconnects.

“You fucking⁠—”

I grit my teeth and isolate the external relay, launch the first patch cycle, then send the family chat a summary before I can convince myself to wait for something more concrete.

me:

Third probe. Same signature. Fenrir says whoever’s behind it is mapping Odin’s network through our connected systems. Don’t touch any security settings. I’m going to the club to brief Odin.

Holden’s reply appears almost immediately.

HOLDEN:

Keep your phone on. Message when you arrive.

me:

Will do.

I sit back while the first patch cycle runs. The cooling fans hum. Green and amber lights blink across the racks.

My hands are steady. My brain is not.

I pat my jacket pocket without deciding to. Bottle’s there. Still rattling. Good boy, Milo, taking his medicine like a functional adult.

Behind the door in my head, something rolls over and goes back to sleep. I’d like it on record that I’m not curious. I have never been less curious about anything in my life.

I want to go home and find Holden or kitten. I’d even take Knox pounding the panic out of me in the gym until my brain shuts up.

With his fists, not his cock!

We both know you were thinking it.

But this is bigger than anything they can quiet, and Odin needs to know someone is mapping his network before that someone decides to walk through it.

The moment the first patch cycle finishes cleanly, I grab my laptop and keys and drive to Unholy Desires.

FORTY-TWO

MICAH

Iclock Milo the second he pushes through the front doors.