Anna
She didn’t run back to Lexus immediately.
Not because she didn’t want to.
But because she could feel the Veil waiting for it.
She could feel the system hoping she would intensify—hoping she would break regulation so they could justify correction.
Anna forced herself to walk slowly.
To breathe evenly.
To keep her face blank.
She returned to the lodging atrium like nothing had happened.
Lexus wasn’t there.
Mara wasn’t there either.
Anna’s heart lurched.
A chime sounded overhead, soft as laughter.
Anna turned sharply.
The attendant from earlier stood three steps away again.
“Traveler Anna,” she said. “Consensus requests your compliance.”
Anna stared at her.
“I already answered,” Anna said.
The attendant’s smile did not change.
“This is not a question,” she replied.
An
