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The flash of humor eased some of the tension between us. Through the bond, I could feel her determination solidify, pushing aside confusion and regret about what had transpired between us.

"The storm's nearly passed," I observed, noting the decreasing frequency of energy flashes. "We should prepare to move."

She gathered her scanner, checking its damaged display. "Any idea which direction leads up?"

I extended my senses, feeling for air currents, listening for the subtle differences in sound that might indicate a path to the surface. "There." I pointed to the right passage. "The air flows more freely in that direction."

She nodded, accepting my assessment without question—a marked change from our earlier interactions. Trust, hard-won through shared danger.

"Ready?" she asked, rising to a crouch.

I stood carefully, testing my injured shoulder's range of motion. Pain flared, but I pushed it aside. "Ready."

We paused at the alcove entrance, checking for lingering energy discharges. The silence stretched on, heavy with unspoken questions about what had happened and what it meant.

"Varek," she said quietly. "Whatever this is between us?—"

"Can wait," I finished for her. "Survival first."

She nodded, relief and something like disappointment mingling in her expression. "Survival first."

RIVERA

Survival first. The words echoed in the heavy silence of the alcove, a necessary anchor against the confusing storm of emotions swirling inside me. Varek stood near the entrance, his back partially turned as he scanned the corridor beyond, already shifting back into warrior mode.

I pushed myself away from the wall, my muscles protesting, my skin still tingling where our markings had resonated. The memory of the bond flaring between us—the shared sensations, the terrifying intimacy—was too raw, too close. I couldn't process it now. Not with unstable ruins threatening to collapse around us.

Lifebond. The word Varek had used resonated uncomfortably. I'd thought it was just... stress. Proximity. Adrenaline. A physical reaction to shared danger. But the way he'd said it, the reverence in his voice, the confirmation I felt through the lingering connection... it implied something far more permanent, more profound than I was ready to contemplate.

"Right," I said, forcing practicality into my voice, pushing aside the turmoil. "Survival first." I retrieved my scanner, relieved to see its display flicker back to life, though the readings were still erratic. "Your 'air flow' passage seems like our best bet."

Varek nodded without turning. "The energy signatures are lower in that direction. Less immediate risk of another discharge."

We moved out of the alcove, back into the main corridor, maintaining that careful, deliberate distance between us. The air felt thick, charged, the silence broken only by the drip of water and the distant groan of stressed metal. I focused on the scanner, using its unreliable readings to supplement Varek's senses, forcing myself not to think about the way his hand had felt against my face, the intensity in his golden eyes, the echo of his thoughts against mine.

The passage Varek had indicated was narrow, slick with moisture, and sloped steeply downward. We moved slowly, testing each step. Varek went first, his larger frame filling the passage, his movements economical and precise despite the awkward angle and his injured shoulder. I followed, using the wall for balance, acutely aware of him just ahead.

The bond, though quieter now, remained a constant presence—a low-level hum beneath my skin connecting me to him. I could feel the dull throb of pain from his shoulder, the focused concentration as he assessed the path ahead. It was unnerving, this involuntary intimacy. How much of me could he sense? My fear? My confusion? The embarrassing flutter in my stomach when his arm brushed mine in the narrow passage?

I pushed the thoughts away. Focus on the mission. Find a way out. Warn the settlement. Stop Hammond.

After what felt like an eternity, the passage leveled out, opening into a wider corridor littered with debris from another partial collapse. This section looked different—less ancient stone, more metal grating underfoot, conduits running along the walls labeled with symbols that looked closer to standard engineering notation than the ancient Nyxari glyphs.

"Maintenance tunnels," I said, recognizing the layout. "These should lead somewhere."

Varek examined the conduits. "These carry power, not data. Likely secondary systems." He pointed at a junction box overhead, its cover hanging open, wires spilling out. "Damaged during the tremors."

I pulled out the data crystal I'd found earlier, turning it over in my hand. "Maybe this can tell us where these tunnels lead." Just like Mirelle found the translation stones when her markings reacted. The thought surfaced unbidden. Are these markings really keys? Resonating with specific places, specific tech?

Varek eyed the crystal warily. "More ancient technology?"

"Possibly. I found it near some energy regulation schematics." I held it up. "My markings respond to it."

He hesitated, then nodded. "Try it. But carefully. No direct interface like before."

I found a diagnostic port on a nearby wall panel that looked relatively intact. Taking a deep breath, I slid the crystal into the port. It clicked into place, and the crystal pulsed with soft blue light.

A holographic map shimmered into existence above the crystal, displaying a complex network of tunnels and chambers. It overlaid our current position onto the schematic.