The Silver Pact
I murmured softly, my lips brushing his jawline as I leaned past him to inspect the central gear shaft.
"Never," Gideon growled back, his golden eyes locking onto mine for a brief, intense second that set my blood on fire despite the sulfurous chill of the vault.
I turned my attention to the black void-bolt wedged between the massive iron gear teeth. The dark artifact was radiating a freezing, corrupted aura that kept the teeth slippery and immune to friction.
"It needs heat," I realized aloud. "Extreme, concentrated heat to fuse the gear teeth before the void-bolt can push them past the brake!"