Chapter 134

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Four

A dull ringing brought Connor around. The world had gone blurry and dim, and the ringing grew more intense and demanding.

Ancient, dry dust filled his mouth and nose, choking off his breathing.

He groaned and rolled onto his side, hacking and spitting to clear his throat, but the grit and stench wouldn’t go away. And now, there was the coppery taste of blood.

And the dull ringing drowned out everything else.

Connor tested his arms, which seemed tender and sore to the bone.

They still work, he told himself. That was more than he had a right to expect.

What was it Elise had said before touching the symbols? A warning?

Of course it had been a warning: Don’t touch me, I’m a bomb!

Had that been Selen’s work? The imprisoned alien? The K’tuula?

He tried to blink away whatever was fogging his vision, and when that didn’t work rubbed his eyes.

That hurt, and it didn’t help at all.

And neither did the ringing.