Chapter 45 · And you think you can do that by getting yourself swallowed?

Her expression shifted. The anger stayed, but something else slipped under it. Her fingers caught the back of his coat, not to pull him away this time, but to keep hold.

"And you think you can do that by getting yourself swallowed?"

"I have done worse."

"That is not comforting."

"It wasn't meant to be."

The shape inside the black hole stepped closer.

A voice reached them, quiet and clear.

"Raven Thorne."

The sound did not come from the chamber. It came from the tether itself.

Seraphina's grip went rigid.

"Do not answer," she said.

"It knows my name."

"That does not mean you have to answer."

"It knows yours too."

The shape raised its hand again.

The red tether pulled tight between them.

Pain flashed through Raven's chest. Seraphina stumbled into his back.

"What does it want?" she demanded.

Raven stared into the darkness. "It wants us to step closer."

"Then we do the opposite."

They tried to retreat.

The floor split behind them.

A golden crack opened across the platform, cutting off the stairs.