The ritual circle flared bright, and Kane grabbed Vessa's wrist before she could touch it again.
"Wait," Kane said fast. "Just wait one second."
"There's no time," Vessa said, trying to pull free. "Every second we wait, it grows stronger."
"Ottilie," Kane said, not letting go. "How much time do we actually have."
Ottilie studied the pulsing light, her face tight. "Not long. A minute, maybe less, before it reaches whatever point makes it explode on its own."
Talyn crouched beside the circle, careful not to touch it. "There has to be a way to disarm this without a life trade. The Concord built it, someone can unbuild it."
"Not in a minute," Vessa said. "I know ritual work well enough to tell you that much."
Kane looked at her, then at the circle, then back at Vessa's tired, tear-strea
