Chapter 22 · Get away from him!

He held the page out, but before Mara could take it, the ash-walker rose behind him.

"Riven!"

He spun.

The creature's claws struck his chest.

His coat tore. Four dark lines opened across the fabric. No blood came out. Only black smoke.

Riven stared down at the wound.

The curse answered.

His back arched. A sound tore out of him, too deep to be human. The windows burst all at once. Every bottle on the shelves cracked. The flames in Tessa's oil tray jumped blue.

"Get away from him!" Tessa shouted.

Mara didn't move.

Riven's head lifted.

His eyes were no longer silver.

They were black from edge to edge.

The ash-walker backed away from him.

For the first time, it looked afraid.

"Riven," Mara said.

His gaze snapped to her.

The bond slammed open.

Pain tore through her chest. Heat flooded her veins. Her knees hit the floor.

Riven's fingers curled into claws.

"Mara," Tessa whispered. "Don't go near him."

"If I don't, he'll kill everyone in this room."

"He'll kill you first."

Riven took one step toward Mara.

The boards cracked under his boot.

"Stay back," he said.

His voice sounded wrong.