diff --git a/src/core/api/README.md b/src/core/api/README.md
index 11bf8a7..fadab97 100644
--- a/src/core/api/README.md
+++ b/src/core/api/README.md
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@ Ce répertoire est un **framework d'API générique**. Il ne connaît aucune fea
 src/core/api/
 ├── index.js           Exports publics (routeRequest, requireAuth, apiSuccess, defineApiRoutes…)
 ├── router.js          Orchestration : rate limit, CSRF, auth, dispatch
+├── runtime.js         État global persisté : resolver de session + registre des feature routes
 ├── route-handler.js   Intégration Next.js App Router (GET/POST/PUT/DELETE/PATCH)
 ├── define.js          defineApiRoutes() — validateur de définitions de routes
-├── respond.js         apiSuccess() / apiError() — utilitaires de réponse
+├── respond.js         apiSuccess() / apiError() / getStatusCode() — utilitaires de réponse
 ├── core-routes.js     Index des routes built-in (seul fichier à toucher pour un nouveau handler core)
+├── file-response.js   Réponse streaming pour les fichiers (GET /zen/api/storage/**)
 └── health.js          GET /zen/api/health
 
 src/features/auth/api.js     Routes /zen/api/users/* (vivent avec la feature auth)
@@ -54,9 +56,11 @@ L'auth est **toujours déclarée dans la définition de route**, jamais dans le
 
 ---
 
-## Ajouter des routes à une feature existante
+## Ajouter des routes à une feature core
 
-Créer un fichier `api.js` dans le répertoire de la feature et exporter `routes` :
+Deux étapes :
+
+**1. Créer un fichier `api.js` dans le répertoire de la feature :**
 
 ```js
 // src/features/myfeature/api.js
@@ -79,23 +83,19 @@ export const routes = defineApiRoutes([
 ]);
 ```
 
-Puis enregistrer dans `core-routes.js` (la seule ligne à ajouter) :
+**2. L'enregistrer dans `initializeZen()` (src/shared/lib/init.js) :**
 
 ```js
+import { registerFeatureRoutes } from '../../core/api/index.js';
 import { routes as settingsRoutes } from '../../features/myfeature/api.js';
 
-export function getCoreRoutes() {
-  return [
-    ...healthRoutes,
-    ...usersRoutes,
-    ...storageRoutes,
-    ...settingsRoutes,   // ← ajout
-  ];
-}
+registerFeatureRoutes(settingsRoutes);
 ```
 
 **C'est tout.** Les routes sont disponibles à `GET /zen/api/settings` et `PUT /zen/api/settings`.
 
+> Note : `core-routes.js` n'est utilisé que pour les routes built-in de l'infrastructure (health, storage). Les routes de features passent par `registerFeatureRoutes()` dans `initializeZen()`.
+
 ---
 
 ## Ajouter des routes depuis un module
diff --git a/src/core/api/core-routes.js b/src/core/api/core-routes.js
index 3086db3..20c6d4e 100644
--- a/src/core/api/core-routes.js
+++ b/src/core/api/core-routes.js
@@ -1,29 +1,31 @@
 /**
  * Core Route Index
  *
- * This is the ONLY file to edit when adding a new built-in handler.
- * Each feature manages its own route definitions via defineApiRoutes().
- * Do NOT put route logic here — only import and spread.
+ * Contains only routes that are part of the core API infrastructure itself:
+ * the health check and the storage file-serving endpoint. Both live under
+ * src/core/ and have no feature-level dependencies.
  *
- * To add a new built-in handler:
- *   1. Create the handler in its natural location (e.g. src/features/myfeature/api.js)
+ * Feature routes (e.g. /users/*) are registered separately by each feature
+ * during initializeZen() via registerFeatureRoutes(). Module routes are
+ * collected via getAllApiRoutes() from the module registry.
+ *
+ * To add a new core infrastructure handler:
+ *   1. Create the handler in its natural location under src/core/
  *   2. Export `routes` from it using defineApiRoutes()
  *   3. Add one line here: import + spread
  *   4. Done — never touch router.js
  */
 
 import { routes as healthRoutes }  from './health.js';
-import { routes as usersRoutes }   from '../../features/auth/api.js';
 import { routes as storageRoutes } from '../storage/api.js';
 
 /**
- * Return all registered core API routes.
+ * Return all registered core infrastructure API routes.
  * @returns {ReadonlyArray}
  */
 export function getCoreRoutes() {
   return [
     ...healthRoutes,
-    ...usersRoutes,
     ...storageRoutes,
   ];
 }
diff --git a/src/core/api/define.js b/src/core/api/define.js
index 3581dbe..0dff974 100644
--- a/src/core/api/define.js
+++ b/src/core/api/define.js
@@ -13,10 +13,16 @@
  *   ]);
  *
  * Required fields per route:
- *   path    {string}   Must start with '/'. Supports ':param' and trailing '/**'.
- *   method  {string}   One of: GET | POST | PUT | PATCH | DELETE
- *   handler {Function} Async function — signature: (request, params, context)
- *   auth    {string}   One of: 'public' | 'user' | 'admin'
+ *   path           {string}   Must start with '/'. Supports ':param' and trailing '/**'.
+ *   method         {string}   One of: GET | POST | PUT | PATCH | DELETE
+ *   handler        {Function} Async function — signature: (request, params, context)
+ *   auth           {string}   One of: 'public' | 'user' | 'admin'
+ *
+ * Optional fields per route:
+ *   skipRateLimit  {boolean}  When true, the router skips the per-IP rate limit
+ *                             check for this route. Use sparingly — only for routes
+ *                             that must remain accessible under high probe frequency
+ *                             (e.g. health checks from monitoring systems).
  *
  * Auth levels:
  *   'public'  Anyone can call this route. context.session is undefined.
@@ -66,6 +72,11 @@ export function defineApiRoutes(routes) {
         `${at} (${route.method} ${route.path}) — "auth" must be one of "public" | "user" | "admin", got: ${JSON.stringify(route.auth)}`
       );
     }
+    if (route.skipRateLimit !== undefined && typeof route.skipRateLimit !== 'boolean') {
+      throw new TypeError(
+        `${at} (${route.method} ${route.path}) — "skipRateLimit" must be a boolean when provided, got: ${JSON.stringify(route.skipRateLimit)}`
+      );
+    }
   }
 
   // Freeze to prevent accidental mutation of route definitions at runtime.
diff --git a/src/core/api/file-response.js b/src/core/api/file-response.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c0e52e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/api/file-response.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+/**
+ * File Response Builder
+ *
+ * Builds a NextResponse for streaming a file from storage.
+ * Encapsulates all file-serving semantics — MIME type rendering policy,
+ * Content-Disposition rules, security headers — in one place so the
+ * generic route handler stays agnostic about storage concerns.
+ *
+ * Policy:
+ *   - Image MIME types are served inline (required for <img> tags).
+ *   - All other types force a download to prevent in-browser rendering
+ *     of potentially dangerous content.
+ *   - Content-Disposition is always emitted explicitly; omitting it leaves
+ *     rendering decisions to browser heuristics, which vary by content-type
+ *     and browser version.
+ */
+
+import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
+
+// MIME types that are safe to render inline (used in <img> tags).
+// All other types are forced to download.
+const INLINE_MIME_TYPES = new Set([
+  'image/jpeg', 'image/png', 'image/gif', 'image/webp',
+]);
+
+/**
+ * Build a NextResponse that streams a file from a storage result envelope.
+ *
+ * @param {{ body: *, contentType?: string, contentLength?: number, lastModified?: Date, filename?: string }} file
+ * @returns {NextResponse}
+ */
+export function buildFileResponse(file) {
+  const contentType = file.contentType || 'application/octet-stream';
+
+  const headers = {
+    'Content-Type': contentType,
+    'Cache-Control': 'private, max-age=3600',
+    'Last-Modified': file.lastModified?.toUTCString() ?? new Date().toUTCString(),
+    'X-Content-Type-Options': 'nosniff',
+    'X-Frame-Options': 'DENY',
+  };
+
+  if (file.contentLength != null) {
+    headers['Content-Length'] = String(file.contentLength);
+  }
+
+  if (INLINE_MIME_TYPES.has(contentType)) {
+    headers['Content-Disposition'] = 'inline';
+  } else if (file.filename) {
+    const encoded = encodeURIComponent(file.filename);
+    headers['Content-Disposition'] = `attachment; filename="${encoded}"; filename*=UTF-8''${encoded}`;
+  } else {
+    headers['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment';
+  }
+
+  return new NextResponse(file.body, { status: 200, headers });
+}
diff --git a/src/core/api/health.js b/src/core/api/health.js
index 7e65e9c..289adc4 100644
--- a/src/core/api/health.js
+++ b/src/core/api/health.js
@@ -16,5 +16,5 @@ async function handleHealth() {
 }
 
 export const routes = defineApiRoutes([
-  { path: '/health', method: 'GET', handler: handleHealth, auth: 'public' }
+  { path: '/health', method: 'GET', handler: handleHealth, auth: 'public', skipRateLimit: true }
 ]);
diff --git a/src/core/api/index.js b/src/core/api/index.js
index d4f87b9..d5c20df 100644
--- a/src/core/api/index.js
+++ b/src/core/api/index.js
@@ -2,14 +2,17 @@
  * Zen API — Public Surface
  *
  * Exports the router entry point, auth helpers, response utilities,
- * and the route definition helper for use across the application.
+ * the route definition helper, and the feature routes registry.
  */
 
 // Router
-export { routeRequest, getStatusCode, requireAuth, requireAdmin } from './router.js';
+export { routeRequest, requireAuth, requireAdmin } from './router.js';
+
+// Runtime state — session resolver + feature routes registry
+export { configureRouter, getSessionResolver, clearRouterConfig, registerFeatureRoutes, getFeatureRoutes, clearFeatureRoutes } from './runtime.js';
 
 // Response utilities — use in all handlers (core and modules)
-export { apiSuccess, apiError } from './respond.js';
+export { apiSuccess, apiError, getStatusCode } from './respond.js';
 
 // Route definition helper — use in handler files and module api.js files
 export { defineApiRoutes } from './define.js';
diff --git a/src/core/api/respond.js b/src/core/api/respond.js
index f5a14d6..b4a4466 100644
--- a/src/core/api/respond.js
+++ b/src/core/api/respond.js
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ export function apiSuccess(payload) {
 /**
  * Create an error API response payload.
  *
- * The `code` field is read by getStatusCode() in router.js to derive the
- * HTTP status. Always use one of the recognised codes below — any other
- * value maps to 500.
+ * The `code` field is read by getStatusCode() to derive the HTTP status.
+ * Always use one of the recognised codes below — any other value maps to 500.
  *
  * Valid codes → HTTP status:
  *   'Unauthorized'          → 401
@@ -49,3 +48,31 @@ export function apiSuccess(payload) {
 export function apiError(code, message) {
   return { error: code, message };
 }
+
+/**
+ * Derive an HTTP status code from a response payload.
+ * Reads the `error` field set by apiError().
+ *
+ * @param {Object} response
+ * @returns {number}
+ */
+export function getStatusCode(response) {
+  if (response.error) {
+    switch (response.error) {
+      case 'Unauthorized':
+        return 401;
+      case 'Forbidden':
+      case 'Admin access required':
+        return 403;
+      case 'Not Found':
+        return 404;
+      case 'Bad Request':
+        return 400;
+      case 'Too Many Requests':
+        return 429;
+      default:
+        return 500;
+    }
+  }
+  return 200;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/api/route-handler.js b/src/core/api/route-handler.js
index 89fad44..b2daf9e 100644
--- a/src/core/api/route-handler.js
+++ b/src/core/api/route-handler.js
@@ -1,184 +1,51 @@
 /**
  * ZEN API Route Handler
- * 
- * This is the main catch-all route handler for the ZEN API under /zen/api/.
- * It should be used in a Next.js App Router route at: app/zen/api/[...path]/route.js
+ *
+ * Catch-all Next.js App Router handler for all routes under /zen/api/.
+ * Place this file at: app/zen/api/[...path]/route.js
+ *
+ * All HTTP methods are handled by a single factory. GET additionally
+ * supports file streaming responses from the storage endpoint.
  */
 
 import { NextResponse } from 'next/server';
-import { routeRequest, getStatusCode } from './router.js';
+import { routeRequest } from './router.js';
+import { apiError, getStatusCode } from './respond.js';
+import { buildFileResponse } from './file-response.js';
 import { fail } from '../../shared/lib/logger.js';
 
-/**
- * Handle GET requests
- */
-export async function GET(request, { params }) {
-  try {
-    const resolvedParams = await params;
-    const path = resolvedParams.path || [];
-    const response = await routeRequest(request, path);
-    
-    // Check if this is a file response (from storage endpoint)
-    if (response.success && response.file) {
-      const contentType = response.file.contentType || 'application/octet-stream';
-      const headers = {
-        'Content-Type': contentType,
-        'Content-Length': response.file.contentLength?.toString() || '',
-        'Cache-Control': 'private, max-age=3600',
-        'Last-Modified': response.file.lastModified?.toUTCString() || new Date().toUTCString(),
-        'X-Content-Type-Options': 'nosniff',
-        'X-Frame-Options': 'DENY',
-      };
+const GENERIC_ERROR_MSG = 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.';
 
-      // Always emit an explicit Content-Disposition header — omitting it leaves
-      // rendering decisions to browser heuristics, which varies by content-type
-      // and browser version.  Image MIME types are served inline (required for
-      // <img> tags); every other type forces a download to prevent in-browser
-      // rendering of potentially dangerous content.
-      const INLINE_MIME_TYPES = new Set([
-        'image/jpeg', 'image/png', 'image/gif', 'image/webp',
-      ]);
-      if (INLINE_MIME_TYPES.has(contentType)) {
-        headers['Content-Disposition'] = 'inline';
-      } else if (response.file.filename) {
-        const encoded = encodeURIComponent(response.file.filename);
-        headers['Content-Disposition'] = `attachment; filename="${encoded}"; filename*=UTF-8''${encoded}`;
-      } else {
-        headers['Content-Disposition'] = 'attachment';
+/**
+ * Create a Next.js route handler for a given HTTP method.
+ *
+ * @param {boolean} [serveFiles=false] - When true, file streaming responses are
+ *   returned directly instead of being wrapped in JSON. Only GET needs this.
+ * @returns {Function} Next.js App Router handler
+ */
+function makeHandler(serveFiles = false) {
+  return async function handler(request, { params }) {
+    try {
+      const path = (await params).path ?? [];
+      const response = await routeRequest(request, path);
+
+      if (serveFiles && response.success && response.file) {
+        return buildFileResponse(response.file);
       }
 
-      return new NextResponse(response.file.body, { status: 200, headers });
+      return NextResponse.json(response, { status: getStatusCode(response) });
+    } catch (error) {
+      fail(`API error: ${error.message}`);
+      return NextResponse.json(
+        apiError('Internal Server Error', GENERIC_ERROR_MSG),
+        { status: 500 }
+      );
     }
-    
-    // Regular JSON response
-    const statusCode = getStatusCode(response);
-    return NextResponse.json(response, { 
-      status: statusCode,
-      headers: {
-        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-      }
-    });
-  } catch (error) {
-    fail(`API error: ${error.message}`);
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      {
-        error: 'Internal Server Error',
-        message: 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.'
-      },
-      { status: 500 }
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * Handle POST requests
- */
-export async function POST(request, { params }) {
-  try {
-    const resolvedParams = await params;
-    const path = resolvedParams.path || [];
-    const response = await routeRequest(request, path);
-    const statusCode = getStatusCode(response);
-
-    return NextResponse.json(response, { 
-      status: statusCode,
-      headers: {
-        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-      }
-    });
-  } catch (error) {
-    fail(`API error: ${error.message}`);
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      {
-        error: 'Internal Server Error',
-        message: 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.'
-      },
-      { status: 500 }
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * Handle PUT requests
- */
-export async function PUT(request, { params }) {
-  try {
-    const resolvedParams = await params;
-    const path = resolvedParams.path || [];
-    const response = await routeRequest(request, path);
-    const statusCode = getStatusCode(response);
-
-    return NextResponse.json(response, { 
-      status: statusCode,
-      headers: {
-        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-      }
-    });
-  } catch (error) {
-    fail(`API error: ${error.message}`);
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      {
-        error: 'Internal Server Error',
-        message: 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.'
-      },
-      { status: 500 }
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * Handle DELETE requests
- */
-export async function DELETE(request, { params }) {
-  try {
-    const resolvedParams = await params;
-    const path = resolvedParams.path || [];
-    const response = await routeRequest(request, path);
-    const statusCode = getStatusCode(response);
-
-    return NextResponse.json(response, { 
-      status: statusCode,
-      headers: {
-        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-      }
-    });
-  } catch (error) {
-    fail(`API error: ${error.message}`);
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      {
-        error: 'Internal Server Error',
-        message: 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.'
-      },
-      { status: 500 }
-    );
-  }
-}
-
-/**
- * Handle PATCH requests
- */
-export async function PATCH(request, { params }) {
-  try {
-    const resolvedParams = await params;
-    const path = resolvedParams.path || [];
-    const response = await routeRequest(request, path);
-    const statusCode = getStatusCode(response);
-
-    return NextResponse.json(response, { 
-      status: statusCode,
-      headers: {
-        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
-      }
-    });
-  } catch (error) {
-    fail(`API error: ${error.message}`);
-    return NextResponse.json(
-      {
-        error: 'Internal Server Error',
-        message: 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.'
-      },
-      { status: 500 }
-    );
-  }
+  };
 }
 
+export const GET    = makeHandler(true);
+export const POST   = makeHandler();
+export const PUT    = makeHandler();
+export const PATCH  = makeHandler();
+export const DELETE = makeHandler();
diff --git a/src/core/api/router.js b/src/core/api/router.js
index 0ed0377..5b0bfff 100644
--- a/src/core/api/router.js
+++ b/src/core/api/router.js
@@ -1,28 +1,34 @@
 /**
  * API Router
  *
- * Generic request router — has no knowledge of specific features.
- * Core handlers and modules self-register their routes; this file
- * only orchestrates rate limiting, CSRF, auth enforcement, and dispatch.
+ * Orchestre rate limiting, CSRF, enforcement d'auth et dispatch vers les handlers.
+ * N'a aucune connaissance des features spécifiques — les routes s'auto-enregistrent.
  *
- * Request lifecycle:
+ * Initialisation requise :
+ *   Appeler configureRouter({ resolveSession }) une fois au démarrage (dans initializeZen)
+ *   avant toute requête. Le resolver est fourni par la feature auth, ce qui garde
+ *   core/api/ libre de tout import feature.
+ *
+ * Cycle de vie d'une requête :
  *   route-handler.js → routeRequest()
- *     → rate limit check (health GET exempt)
- *     → CSRF origin validation (state-mutating methods only)
- *     → unified route match (core routes first, then module routes)
- *       → auth enforcement from route definition
+ *     → rate limit (routes skipRateLimit exemptées)
+ *     → validation CSRF (méthodes state-mutating uniquement)
+ *     → matching sur toutes les routes (core en premier, puis features, puis modules)
+ *       → enforcement auth depuis la définition de route
  *       → handler(request, params, context)
  */
 
-import { validateSession } from '../../features/auth/lib/session.js';
 import { cookies } from 'next/headers';
 import { getSessionCookieName } from '../../shared/lib/appConfig.js';
 import { getAllApiRoutes } from '../modules/index.js';
-import { checkRateLimit, getIpFromRequest, formatRetryAfter } from '../../features/auth/lib/rateLimit.js';
+import { checkRateLimit, getIpFromRequest, formatRetryAfter } from '../../shared/lib/rateLimit.js';
 import { fail } from '../../shared/lib/logger.js';
 import { getCoreRoutes } from './core-routes.js';
+import { getFeatureRoutes, getSessionResolver } from './runtime.js';
 import { apiError } from './respond.js';
 
+export { configureRouter, getSessionResolver, clearRouterConfig } from './runtime.js';
+
 const COOKIE_NAME = getSessionCookieName();
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -30,11 +36,10 @@ const COOKIE_NAME = getSessionCookieName();
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /**
- * Require a valid session. Throws if the request carries no valid cookie.
- * @param {Request} request
+ * Exige une session valide. Lève une erreur si aucun cookie valide n'est présent.
  * @returns {Promise<Object>} session
  */
-export async function requireAuth(_request) {
+export async function requireAuth() {
   const cookieStore = await cookies();
   const sessionToken = cookieStore.get(COOKIE_NAME)?.value;
 
@@ -42,7 +47,7 @@ export async function requireAuth(_request) {
     throw new Error('Unauthorized');
   }
 
-  const session = await validateSession(sessionToken);
+  const session = await getSessionResolver()(sessionToken);
 
   if (!session || !session.user) {
     throw new Error('Unauthorized');
@@ -52,12 +57,11 @@ export async function requireAuth(_request) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Require a valid admin session. Throws if not authenticated or not admin.
- * @param {Request} request
+ * Exige une session admin valide. Lève une erreur si non authentifié ou non admin.
  * @returns {Promise<Object>} session
  */
-export async function requireAdmin(_request) {
-  const session = await requireAuth(_request);
+export async function requireAdmin() {
+  const session = await requireAuth();
 
   if (session.user.role !== 'admin') {
     throw new Error('Admin access required');
@@ -71,8 +75,8 @@ export async function requireAdmin(_request) {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /**
- * Resolve the canonical application URL from environment variables.
- * Priority: NEXT_PUBLIC_URL_DEV (development) → NEXT_PUBLIC_URL (production).
+ * Résout l'URL canonique de l'application depuis les variables d'environnement.
+ * Priorité : NEXT_PUBLIC_URL_DEV (développement) → NEXT_PUBLIC_URL (production).
  */
 function resolveAppUrl() {
   if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development' && process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_URL_DEV) {
@@ -82,8 +86,8 @@ function resolveAppUrl() {
 }
 
 /**
- * Verify that state-mutating requests originate from the expected application
- * origin. GET, HEAD, and OPTIONS are exempt per RFC 7231.
+ * Vérifie que les requêtes state-mutating proviennent de l'origine attendue.
+ * GET, HEAD et OPTIONS sont exemptés (RFC 7231).
  * @param {Request} request
  * @returns {boolean}
  */
@@ -110,7 +114,7 @@ function passesCsrfCheck(request) {
     return origin === expectedOrigin;
   }
 
-  // No Origin header: fall back to Referer (some older browsers).
+  // Pas d'en-tête Origin : repli sur Referer (anciens navigateurs).
   const referer = request.headers.get('referer');
   if (referer) {
     try {
@@ -120,7 +124,7 @@ function passesCsrfCheck(request) {
     }
   }
 
-  // Neither Origin nor Referer — deny to be safe.
+  // Ni Origin ni Referer — refus par sécurité.
   return false;
 }
 
@@ -129,15 +133,15 @@ function passesCsrfCheck(request) {
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 /**
- * Match a route pattern against a request path.
+ * Teste un pattern de route contre un chemin de requête.
  *
- * Supports:
- *   - Exact segments: '/health'
- *   - Named params:   '/users/:id'
- *   - Greedy wildcard (end only): '/storage/**'
+ * Supporte :
+ *   - Segments exacts : '/health'
+ *   - Paramètres nommés : '/users/:id'
+ *   - Wildcard greedy (fin uniquement) : '/storage/**'
  *
- * @param {string} pattern - Route pattern
- * @param {string} path    - Actual request path (e.g. '/users/42')
+ * @param {string} pattern
+ * @param {string} path
  * @returns {boolean}
  */
 function matchRoute(pattern, path) {
@@ -167,11 +171,11 @@ function matchRoute(pattern, path) {
 }
 
 /**
- * Extract named path parameters (and wildcard) from a matched route.
+ * Extrait les paramètres de chemin nommés (et le wildcard) d'une route matchée.
  *
- * @param {string} pattern - Route pattern (e.g. '/users/:id')
- * @param {string} path    - Actual path   (e.g. '/users/42')
- * @returns {Object} params — named params + optional `wildcard` string
+ * @param {string} pattern - Ex. '/users/:id'
+ * @param {string} path    - Ex. '/users/42'
+ * @returns {Object} params — paramètres nommés + `wildcard` optionnel
  */
 function extractPathParams(pattern, path) {
   const params = {};
@@ -196,37 +200,42 @@ function extractPathParams(pattern, path) {
 // Main router
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-// Messages safe to surface to clients verbatim.
+// Messages sûrs à exposer verbatim au client.
 const SAFE_AUTH_MESSAGES = new Set(['Unauthorized', 'Admin access required']);
 
-// Emitted at most once per process lifetime to avoid log flooding while still
-// alerting operators that per-IP rate limiting is inactive.
+// Émis au plus une fois par lifetime de process pour éviter le log flooding.
 let _rateLimitUnavailableWarned = false;
 
 /**
- * Route an API request to the appropriate handler.
+ * Route une requête API vers le handler approprié.
  *
- * @param {Request} request  - Incoming Next.js request
- * @param {string[]} path    - Path segments after /zen/api/
- * @returns {Promise<Object>} Response payload (serialised to JSON by route-handler.js)
+ * @param {Request} request  - Requête Next.js entrante
+ * @param {string[]} path    - Segments de chemin après /zen/api/
+ * @returns {Promise<Object>} Payload de réponse (sérialisé en JSON par route-handler.js)
  */
 export async function routeRequest(request, path) {
   const method = request.method;
   const pathString = '/' + path.join('/');
 
-  // IP-based rate limit for all API calls. The health endpoint is exempt so
-  // that monitoring probes do not consume quota.
-  const isHealthCheck = path[0] === 'health' && method === 'GET';
-  if (!isHealthCheck) {
+  // Fusion de toutes les routes — core en premier pour que les built-ins aient priorité.
+  // Le rate limit est différé après le matching pour pouvoir honorer skipRateLimit
+  // sans hardcoder de chemins dans le router.
+  const allRoutes = [...getCoreRoutes(), ...getFeatureRoutes(), ...getAllApiRoutes()];
+
+  const matchedRoute = allRoutes.find(
+    route => matchRoute(route.path, pathString) && route.method === method
+  );
+
+  // Rate limit par IP. Les routes avec skipRateLimit: true sont exemptées
+  // (ex. GET /health pour que les sondes de monitoring ne consomment pas de quota).
+  if (!matchedRoute?.skipRateLimit) {
     const ip = getIpFromRequest(request);
     if (ip === 'unknown') {
-      // Client IP cannot be resolved — applying rate limiting against the
-      // shared 'unknown' key would collapse every user's traffic into one
-      // bucket, allowing a single attacker to exhaust it and deny service to
-      // all other users (global DoS). Rate limiting is therefore suspended
-      // until a trusted reverse proxy is configured.
-      // Operators must set ZEN_TRUST_PROXY=true once a verified proxy
-      // (Nginx, Cloudflare, AWS ALB, …) strips and rewrites forwarding headers.
+      // L'IP client ne peut pas être résolue — appliquer le rate limit sur la clé
+      // 'unknown' partagée effondrerait tout le trafic dans un seul bucket, permettant
+      // à un seul attaquant d'épuiser le quota et de dénier le service à tous les autres.
+      // Le rate limiting est donc suspendu jusqu'à ce qu'un reverse proxy de confiance
+      // soit configuré avec ZEN_TRUST_PROXY=true.
       if (!_rateLimitUnavailableWarned) {
         _rateLimitUnavailableWarned = true;
         fail(
@@ -245,77 +254,40 @@ export async function routeRequest(request, path) {
     }
   }
 
-  // CSRF origin validation for state-mutating requests.
+  // Validation CSRF pour les requêtes state-mutating.
   if (!passesCsrfCheck(request)) {
     return apiError('Forbidden', 'CSRF validation failed');
   }
 
-  // Merge all routes — core first so built-ins take precedence over modules.
-  const allRoutes = [...getCoreRoutes(), ...getAllApiRoutes()];
-
-  for (const route of allRoutes) {
-    if (!matchRoute(route.path, pathString) || route.method !== method) {
-      continue;
-    }
-
-    // Enforce auth from the route definition before calling the handler.
-    const context = {};
-    try {
-      if (route.auth === 'admin') {
-        context.session = await requireAdmin(request);
-      } else if (route.auth === 'user') {
-        context.session = await requireAuth(request);
-      }
-      // 'public' — context.session remains undefined
-    } catch (err) {
-      const code = SAFE_AUTH_MESSAGES.has(err.message) ? err.message : 'Internal Server Error';
-      if (!SAFE_AUTH_MESSAGES.has(err.message)) {
-        fail(`Auth error: ${err.message}`);
-      }
-      return apiError(code, code);
-    }
-
-    const params = extractPathParams(route.path, pathString);
-
-    try {
-      return await route.handler(request, params, context);
-    } catch (err) {
-      fail(`Route handler error [${method} ${route.path}]: ${err.message}`);
-      return apiError('Internal Server Error', 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.');
-    }
+  if (!matchedRoute) {
+    // Aucune route matchée — message générique sans refléter la méthode ou le chemin
+    // pour éviter l'énumération de routes.
+    return apiError('Not Found', 'The requested resource does not exist');
   }
 
-  // No route matched — return a generic message without reflecting the method
-  // or path back to the caller to avoid route enumeration.
-  return apiError('Not Found', 'The requested resource does not exist');
-}
-
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// HTTP status mapping
-// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-/**
- * Derive an HTTP status code from the response payload.
- * @param {Object} response
- * @returns {number}
- */
-export function getStatusCode(response) {
-  if (response.error) {
-    switch (response.error) {
-      case 'Unauthorized':
-        return 401;
-      case 'Forbidden':
-      case 'Admin access required':
-        return 403;
-      case 'Not Found':
-        return 404;
-      case 'Bad Request':
-        return 400;
-      case 'Too Many Requests':
-        return 429;
-      default:
-        return 500;
+  // Enforcement auth depuis la définition de route, avant d'appeler le handler.
+  const context = {};
+  try {
+    if (matchedRoute.auth === 'admin') {
+      context.session = await requireAdmin();
+    } else if (matchedRoute.auth === 'user') {
+      context.session = await requireAuth();
     }
+    // 'public' — context.session reste undefined
+  } catch (err) {
+    const code = SAFE_AUTH_MESSAGES.has(err.message) ? err.message : 'Internal Server Error';
+    if (!SAFE_AUTH_MESSAGES.has(err.message)) {
+      fail(`Auth error: ${err.message}`);
+    }
+    return apiError(code, code);
+  }
+
+  const params = extractPathParams(matchedRoute.path, pathString);
+
+  try {
+    return await matchedRoute.handler(request, params, context);
+  } catch (err) {
+    fail(`Route handler error [${method} ${matchedRoute.path}]: ${err.message}`);
+    return apiError('Internal Server Error', 'An unexpected error occurred. Please try again later.');
   }
-  return 200;
 }
diff --git a/src/core/api/runtime.js b/src/core/api/runtime.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6d647d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/api/runtime.js
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+/**
+ * API Runtime State
+ *
+ * Centralise tout l'état global persisté de l'infrastructure API :
+ *   - Le resolver de session (injecté par la feature auth via configureRouter)
+ *   - Le registre des routes de features (peuplé via registerFeatureRoutes)
+ *
+ * Les deux utilisent le même pattern Symbol.for() + globalThis pour survivre
+ * aux hot-reloads Next.js sans réinitialiser l'état entre les recharges de modules.
+ *
+ * LIMITATION CONNUE : l'état est local au process. Dans un déploiement multi-worker
+ * ou serverless, chaque instance maintient son propre état. Pour les routes, cela
+ * implique que initializeZen() doit être appelé une fois par worker — ce qui est
+ * déjà le cas via instrumentation.js.
+ */
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Session resolver
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const RESOLVER_KEY = Symbol.for('__ZEN_SESSION_RESOLVER__');
+
+/**
+ * Configure le router avec les dépendances de la feature auth.
+ * Doit être appelé une fois au démarrage avant toute requête.
+ *
+ * @param {{ resolveSession: (token: string) => Promise<Object|null> }} config
+ */
+export function configureRouter({ resolveSession }) {
+  if (typeof resolveSession !== 'function') {
+    throw new TypeError('configureRouter: resolveSession must be a function');
+  }
+  globalThis[RESOLVER_KEY] = resolveSession;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retourne le resolver de session configuré.
+ * Utilisé par router.js et core/storage/api.js.
+ *
+ * @returns {(token: string) => Promise<Object|null>}
+ * @throws {Error} Si configureRouter n'a pas encore été appelé
+ */
+export function getSessionResolver() {
+  const resolver = globalThis[RESOLVER_KEY];
+  if (!resolver) {
+    throw new Error(
+      'Router not configured: call configureRouter({ resolveSession }) during initializeZen() before handling requests.'
+    );
+  }
+  return resolver;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Efface le resolver injecté.
+ * Destiné aux tests ou à la réinitialisation manuelle.
+ */
+export function clearRouterConfig() {
+  globalThis[RESOLVER_KEY] = undefined;
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Feature routes registry
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const REGISTRY_KEY = Symbol.for('__ZEN_FEATURE_ROUTES__');
+if (!globalThis[REGISTRY_KEY]) globalThis[REGISTRY_KEY] = [];
+/** @type {Array} */
+const _featureRoutes = globalThis[REGISTRY_KEY];
+
+/**
+ * Enregistre les routes d'une feature core.
+ * Appelé une fois par feature pendant initializeZen().
+ *
+ * @param {ReadonlyArray} routes - Définitions produites par defineApiRoutes()
+ */
+export function registerFeatureRoutes(routes) {
+  if (!Array.isArray(routes)) {
+    throw new TypeError('registerFeatureRoutes: routes must be an array');
+  }
+  _featureRoutes.push(...routes);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Retourne toutes les routes de features enregistrées.
+ * Appelé à chaque requête par le router pour construire la liste complète.
+ *
+ * @returns {ReadonlyArray}
+ */
+export function getFeatureRoutes() {
+  return _featureRoutes;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Vide toutes les routes de features enregistrées.
+ * Destiné aux tests ou à la réinitialisation de l'état ZEN.
+ */
+export function clearFeatureRoutes() {
+  _featureRoutes.length = 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/storage/api.js b/src/core/storage/api.js
index fdad9e8..c099943 100644
--- a/src/core/storage/api.js
+++ b/src/core/storage/api.js
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
  *   - Unknown paths        → denied
  */
 
-import { validateSession } from '../../features/auth/lib/session.js';
 import { cookies } from 'next/headers';
 import { getSessionCookieName } from '../../shared/lib/appConfig.js';
+import { getSessionResolver } from '../api/router.js';
 import { getAllStoragePublicPrefixes } from '@zen/core/modules/storage';
 import { getFile } from '@zen/core/storage';
 import { fail } from '../../shared/lib/logger.js';
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ async function handleGetFile(request, { wildcard: fileKey }) {
       return apiError('Unauthorized', 'Authentication required to access files');
     }
 
-    const session = await validateSession(sessionToken);
+    const session = await getSessionResolver()(sessionToken);
 
     if (!session) {
       return apiError('Unauthorized', 'Invalid or expired session');
diff --git a/src/features/auth/actions/authActions.js b/src/features/auth/actions/authActions.js
index 1d464a3..48c7ee2 100644
--- a/src/features/auth/actions/authActions.js
+++ b/src/features/auth/actions/authActions.js
@@ -11,7 +11,20 @@ import { verifyEmailToken, verifyResetToken, sendVerificationEmail, sendPassword
 import { fail } from '../../../shared/lib/logger.js';
 import { cookies, headers } from 'next/headers';
 import { getSessionCookieName, getPublicBaseUrl } from '../../../shared/lib/appConfig.js';
-import { checkRateLimit, getIpFromHeaders, formatRetryAfter } from '../lib/rateLimit.js';
+import { checkRateLimit, getIpFromHeaders, formatRetryAfter } from '../../../shared/lib/rateLimit.js';
+
+/**
+ * Errors that are safe to surface verbatim to the client (e.g. "token expired").
+ * All other errors — including library-layer and database errors — must be caught,
+ * logged server-side only, and replaced with a generic message to prevent internal
+ * detail disclosure.
+ */
+class UserFacingError extends Error {
+  constructor(message) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = 'UserFacingError';
+  }
+}
 
 /**
  * Get the client IP from the current server action context.
@@ -21,10 +34,49 @@ async function getClientIp() {
   return getIpFromHeaders(h);
 }
 
+// Emitted at most once per process lifetime to avoid log flooding while still
+// alerting operators that per-IP rate limiting is inactive for server actions.
+let _rateLimitUnavailableWarned = false;
+
+/**
+ * Apply per-IP rate limiting only when a real IP address is available.
+ *
+ * When IP resolves to 'unknown' (no trusted proxy configured), every caller
+ * shares the single bucket keyed '<action>:unknown'. A single attacker can
+ * exhaust that bucket in 5 requests and impose a 30-minute denial-of-service
+ * on every legitimate user. Rate limiting is therefore suspended for the
+ * 'unknown' case and a one-time operator warning is emitted instead,
+ * mirroring the identical policy applied to API routes in router.js.
+ *
+ * Set ZEN_TRUST_PROXY=true only behind a verified reverse proxy (Nginx,
+ * Cloudflare, AWS ALB, …) that strips and rewrites forwarding headers.
+ *
+ * @param {string} ip
+ * @param {string} action
+ * @returns {{ allowed: boolean, retryAfterMs?: number } | null} null = suspended
+ */
+function enforceRateLimit(ip, action) {
+  if (ip === 'unknown') {
+    if (!_rateLimitUnavailableWarned) {
+      _rateLimitUnavailableWarned = true;
+      fail(
+        'Rate limiting inactive (server actions): client IP cannot be determined. ' +
+        'Set ZEN_TRUST_PROXY=true behind a verified reverse proxy to enable per-IP rate limiting.'
+      );
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+  return checkRateLimit(ip, action);
+}
+
 /**
  * Validate anti-bot fields submitted with forms.
  * - _hp  : honeypot field — must be empty
- * - _t   : form load timestamp (ms) — submission must be at least 1.5 s after page load
+ * - _t   : form load timestamp (ms) — submission must be at least 1.5 s after page
+ *          load AND no more than MAX_FORM_AGE_MS in the past. Both a lower bound
+ *          (prevents instant automated submission) and an upper bound (prevents the
+ *          trivial bypass of supplying an arbitrary past timestamp such as _t=1) are
+ *          enforced. Future timestamps are also rejected.
  *
  * @param {FormData} formData
  * @returns {{ valid: boolean, error?: string }}
@@ -35,8 +87,13 @@ function validateAntiBotFields(formData) {
     return { valid: false, error: 'Requête invalide' };
   }
 
-  const t = parseInt(formData.get('_t') || '0', 10);
-  if (t === 0 || Date.now() - t < 1500) {
+  const MIN_ELAPSED_MS  = 1_500;
+  const MAX_FORM_AGE_MS = 10 * 60 * 1_000; // 10 minutes — rejects epoch-era timestamps
+  const now = Date.now();
+  const t   = parseInt(formData.get('_t') || '0', 10);
+  const elapsed = now - t;
+
+  if (t === 0 || t > now || elapsed < MIN_ELAPSED_MS || elapsed > MAX_FORM_AGE_MS) {
     return { valid: false, error: 'Requête invalide' };
   }
 
@@ -57,8 +114,8 @@ export async function registerAction(formData) {
     if (!botCheck.valid) return { success: false, error: botCheck.error };
 
     const ip = await getClientIp();
-    const rl = checkRateLimit(ip, 'register');
-    if (!rl.allowed) {
+    const rl = enforceRateLimit(ip, 'register');
+    if (rl && !rl.allowed) {
       return { success: false, error: `Trop de tentatives. Réessayez dans ${formatRetryAfter(rl.retryAfterMs)}.` };
     }
 
@@ -77,10 +134,10 @@ export async function registerAction(formData) {
       user: result.user
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    // Never return raw error.message to the client — library and database errors
+    // (e.g. unique-constraint violations) expose internal table names and schema.
+    fail(`Auth: registerAction error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue. Veuillez réessayer.' };
   }
 }
 
@@ -95,8 +152,8 @@ export async function loginAction(formData) {
     if (!botCheck.valid) return { success: false, error: botCheck.error };
 
     const ip = await getClientIp();
-    const rl = checkRateLimit(ip, 'login');
-    if (!rl.allowed) {
+    const rl = enforceRateLimit(ip, 'login');
+    if (rl && !rl.allowed) {
       return { success: false, error: `Trop de tentatives. Réessayez dans ${formatRetryAfter(rl.retryAfterMs)}.` };
     }
 
@@ -125,20 +182,34 @@ export async function loginAction(formData) {
       // JavaScript-accessible response body.
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    fail(`Auth: loginAction error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Identifiants invalides ou erreur interne. Veuillez réessayer.' };
   }
 }
 
 /**
- * Set session cookie (called by client after showing success message)
- * @param {string} token - Session token
+ * Set session cookie after verifying the token is a genuine live session.
+ *
+ * This server action is client-callable. Without server-side token validation an
+ * attacker could supply any arbitrary string (including a stolen token for another
+ * user) and have it written as the HttpOnly session cookie, completely bypassing
+ * the protection that HttpOnly is intended to provide. The token is therefore
+ * validated against the session store before the cookie is written.
+ *
+ * @param {string} token - Session token obtained from a trusted server-side flow
  * @returns {Promise<Object>} Result object
  */
 export async function setSessionCookie(token) {
   try {
+    if (!token || typeof token !== 'string' || token.trim() === '') {
+      return { success: false, error: 'Jeton de session invalide' };
+    }
+
+    const session = await validateSession(token);
+    if (!session) {
+      return { success: false, error: 'Session invalide ou expirée' };
+    }
+
     const cookieStore = await cookies();
     cookieStore.set(COOKIE_NAME, token, {
       httpOnly: true,
@@ -150,20 +221,32 @@ export async function setSessionCookie(token) {
     
     return { success: true };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    fail(`Auth: setSessionCookie error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue' };
   }
 }
 
 /**
- * Refresh session cookie (extend expiration)
+ * Refresh session cookie (extend expiration).
+ *
+ * Re-validates the token before extending its cookie lifetime so that expired
+ * or revoked tokens cannot have their cookie window reopened by replaying this
+ * server action.
+ *
  * @param {string} token - Session token
  * @returns {Promise<Object>} Result object
  */
 export async function refreshSessionCookie(token) {
   try {
+    if (!token || typeof token !== 'string' || token.trim() === '') {
+      return { success: false, error: 'Jeton de session invalide' };
+    }
+
+    const session = await validateSession(token);
+    if (!session) {
+      return { success: false, error: 'Session invalide ou expirée' };
+    }
+
     const cookieStore = await cookies();
     cookieStore.set(COOKIE_NAME, token, {
       httpOnly: true,
@@ -175,10 +258,8 @@ export async function refreshSessionCookie(token) {
     
     return { success: true };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    fail(`Auth: refreshSessionCookie error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue' };
   }
 }
 
@@ -202,10 +283,8 @@ export async function logoutAction() {
       message: 'Déconnexion réussie'
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    fail(`Auth: logoutAction error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue. Veuillez réessayer.' };
   }
 }
 
@@ -245,8 +324,8 @@ export async function forgotPasswordAction(formData) {
     if (!botCheck.valid) return { success: false, error: botCheck.error };
 
     const ip = await getClientIp();
-    const rl = checkRateLimit(ip, 'forgot_password');
-    if (!rl.allowed) {
+    const rl = enforceRateLimit(ip, 'forgot_password');
+    if (rl && !rl.allowed) {
       return { success: false, error: `Trop de tentatives. Réessayez dans ${formatRetryAfter(rl.retryAfterMs)}.` };
     }
 
@@ -263,10 +342,8 @@ export async function forgotPasswordAction(formData) {
       message: 'Si un compte existe avec cet e-mail, vous recevrez un lien pour réinitialiser votre mot de passe.'
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    fail(`Auth: forgotPasswordAction error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue. Veuillez réessayer.' };
   }
 }
 
@@ -278,8 +355,8 @@ export async function forgotPasswordAction(formData) {
 export async function resetPasswordAction(formData) {
   try {
     const ip = await getClientIp();
-    const rl = checkRateLimit(ip, 'reset_password');
-    if (!rl.allowed) {
+    const rl = enforceRateLimit(ip, 'reset_password');
+    if (rl && !rl.allowed) {
       return { success: false, error: `Trop de tentatives. Réessayez dans ${formatRetryAfter(rl.retryAfterMs)}.` };
     }
 
@@ -287,10 +364,11 @@ export async function resetPasswordAction(formData) {
     const token = formData.get('token');
     const newPassword = formData.get('newPassword');
     
-    // Verify token first
+    // Verify token first — throw UserFacingError so the specific message reaches
+    // the client while unexpected system errors are sanitized in the catch below.
     const isValid = await verifyResetToken(email, token);
     if (!isValid) {
-      throw new Error('Jeton de réinitialisation invalide ou expiré');
+      throw new UserFacingError('Jeton de réinitialisation invalide ou expiré');
     }
     
     await resetPassword({ email, token, newPassword });
@@ -300,10 +378,11 @@ export async function resetPasswordAction(formData) {
       message: 'Mot de passe réinitialisé avec succès. Vous pouvez maintenant vous connecter avec votre nouveau mot de passe.'
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    if (error instanceof UserFacingError) {
+      return { success: false, error: error.message };
+    }
+    fail(`Auth: resetPasswordAction error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue. Veuillez réessayer.' };
   }
 }
 
@@ -315,18 +394,19 @@ export async function resetPasswordAction(formData) {
 export async function verifyEmailAction(formData) {
   try {
     const ip = await getClientIp();
-    const rl = checkRateLimit(ip, 'verify_email');
-    if (!rl.allowed) {
+    const rl = enforceRateLimit(ip, 'verify_email');
+    if (rl && !rl.allowed) {
       return { success: false, error: `Trop de tentatives. Réessayez dans ${formatRetryAfter(rl.retryAfterMs)}.` };
     }
 
     const email = formData.get('email');
     const token = formData.get('token');
     
-    // Verify token
+    // Verify token — throw UserFacingError so validation messages surface to the
+    // client while unexpected system errors remain sanitized in the catch below.
     const isValid = await verifyEmailToken(email, token);
     if (!isValid) {
-      throw new Error('Jeton de vérification invalide ou expiré');
+      throw new UserFacingError('Jeton de vérification invalide ou expiré');
     }
     
     // Find user and verify
@@ -334,7 +414,7 @@ export async function verifyEmailAction(formData) {
     const user = await findOne('zen_auth_users', { email });
     
     if (!user) {
-      throw new Error('Utilisateur introuvable');
+      throw new UserFacingError('Utilisateur introuvable');
     }
     
     await verifyUserEmail(user.id);
@@ -344,10 +424,11 @@ export async function verifyEmailAction(formData) {
       message: 'E-mail vérifié avec succès. Vous pouvez maintenant vous connecter.'
     };
   } catch (error) {
-    return {
-      success: false,
-      error: error.message
-    };
+    if (error instanceof UserFacingError) {
+      return { success: false, error: error.message };
+    }
+    fail(`Auth: verifyEmailAction error: ${error.message}`);
+    return { success: false, error: 'Une erreur interne est survenue. Veuillez réessayer.' };
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shared/lib/init.js b/src/shared/lib/init.js
index acd7a64..8e696ee 100644
--- a/src/shared/lib/init.js
+++ b/src/shared/lib/init.js
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
  */
 
 import { discoverModules, registerExternalModules, startModuleCronJobs, stopModuleCronJobs } from '../../core/modules/index.js';
+import { configureRouter, registerFeatureRoutes, clearFeatureRoutes, clearRouterConfig } from '../../core/api/index.js';
+import { validateSession } from '../../features/auth/lib/session.js';
+import { routes as authRoutes } from '../../features/auth/api.js';
 import { step, done, warn, fail } from './logger.js';
 
 // Use globalThis to persist initialization flag across module reloads
@@ -64,7 +67,13 @@ export async function initializeZen(config = {}) {
   };
 
   try {
-    // Step 1: Discover and register internal modules (from modules.registry.js)
+    // Step 1: Wire core feature dependencies into the API router.
+    // init.js is the composition root — the only place that wires features
+    // into core, keeping core/api/ free of static feature-level imports.
+    configureRouter({ resolveSession: validateSession });
+    registerFeatureRoutes(authRoutes);
+
+    // Step 2: Discover and register internal modules (from modules.registry.js)
     result.discovery = await discoverModules();
 
     const enabledCount = result.discovery.enabled?.length || 0;
@@ -77,7 +86,7 @@ export async function initializeZen(config = {}) {
       warn(`ZEN: skipped ${skippedCount} module(s): ${result.discovery.skipped.join(', ')}`);
     }
 
-    // Step 2: Register external modules from zen.config.js (if any)
+    // Step 3: Register external modules from zen.config.js (if any)
     if (externalModules.length > 0) {
       result.external = await registerExternalModules(externalModules);
 
@@ -86,7 +95,7 @@ export async function initializeZen(config = {}) {
       }
     }
 
-    // Step 3: Start cron jobs for all enabled modules (internal + external)
+    // Step 4: Start cron jobs for all enabled modules (internal + external)
     if (!skipCron) {
       result.cron = await startModuleCronJobs();
 
@@ -119,5 +128,9 @@ export function resetZenInitialization() {
     // Cron system not available
   }
 
+  // Clear router config and feature routes so they are re-registered on next initializeZen()
+  clearRouterConfig();
+  clearFeatureRoutes();
+
   warn('ZEN: initialization reset');
 }
diff --git a/src/features/auth/lib/rateLimit.js b/src/shared/lib/rateLimit.js
similarity index 95%
rename from src/features/auth/lib/rateLimit.js
rename to src/shared/lib/rateLimit.js
index 176591d..5d1a9ba 100644
--- a/src/features/auth/lib/rateLimit.js
+++ b/src/shared/lib/rateLimit.js
@@ -122,7 +122,10 @@ export function getIpFromHeaders(headersList) {
     const realIp = headersList.get('x-real-ip')?.trim();
     if (realIp && isValidIp(realIp)) return realIp;
   }
-  // Safe fallback — all requests share the 'unknown' bucket.
+  // Fallback when no trusted proxy is configured.
+  // Callers (router.js, authActions.js) treat 'unknown' as a signal to suspend
+  // rate limiting rather than collapse all traffic into one shared bucket — which
+  // would allow a single attacker to exhaust the quota and deny service globally.
   // Configure ZEN_TRUST_PROXY=true behind a verified reverse proxy.
   return 'unknown';
 }