Morning had the taste of metal and dust—the Flats smell—and I was already in the van with Reika before the palace fully woke. We like to beat the noise.
Seraphina was waiting with her tripods laid out in a line like instruments ready for tuning. Rachel had a fresh case of clips and the look she gets when she's already run two mental drills on what to do if my heart forgets it's a team player. Tiamat stood like a calm wall. Lyra rolled her shoulders; the wind decided to listen. Lucifer sent a flight glove down with a courier for me—"For luck," his note said, which was his way of saying "For discipline."
Kade walked me through the lattice again. He will do that every time until this work is done. I respect men who love their lines.
"Same truths," Tiamat said. "Now your feet move. No Grey."
"No Grey," I repeated.
"Drill C," Lyra said. "Carry-through."
