ADANNA POV (Point of view)
The warehouse faded behind us, swallowed by the gray morning mist. My hands never left Eden, fingers pressed to the metallic pulse beneath my palms. It had grown stronger overnight, almost responsive to my own heartbeat, guiding us through the fog like a silent guardian.
I glanced at Darian, seated at the helm, eyes scanning every shadow, every ripple on the water. He was tense, coiled like a predator, but his hand reached back to brush my shoulder, grounding me.
"Something's wrong," I murmured, voice low. "Eden… it's different now, faster and It's reacting to me… but not just to us." His jaw tightened, fingers flexing on the throttle. "They're awake. Someone's trying to manipulate it, test it… but they can't. Not while you're the one controlling it."
I swallowed hard with fear and exhilaration twisting in my gut. "I've never felt anything like this," I admitted. "It's alive, I can feel it, Darian… like it's alive with me."
