“Stop it.” Adrian’s voice cracked through the room, but the system didn’t hesitate. “Merge in progress.” The words were calm, too calm. Like something irreversible had already decided it didn’t need permission anymore, the mirror image behind me moved again, not physically, not in the room.
Inside the reflection. And I felt it. A shift under my skin.
Like something was trying to align me from the inside out.
I took one step back without thinking, but there was nowhere to step into. The system had already mapped the space. Adrian stepped forward immediately, grabbing my wrist. “Look at me,” he said sharply.
I did. That was the problem because looking at him didn’t feel stable anymore. It felt secondary. Aiden’s voice cut in. “Don’t let her lock onto external anchors.” Adrian turned inst
