Chapter 10 · I swear to open this gate

I cut my palm on the edge of the seal.

"I swear to open this gate," I said, loud enough for the old iron to hear, "and I swear Dax Rourke crosses with me."

The binding snapped tight.

Dax cried out.

A fresh line of black light cut around both our wrists. It burned through my glove and cinched against his skin.

The gate groaned.

The attacker brought the chair leg down.

Dax rolled. The blow smashed the floor beside his head.

I grabbed his coat and pulled.

"Get up!"

"You just made another vow."

"Yes, and now I'm regretting it. Move!"

He caught my wrist and used my pull to rise. For one second, we stood chest to chest, trapped between the rushing citizens and the opening gate.

His fingers stayed around mine.

"You could have left me," he said.

"Don't make this sentimental."

"You chose me."

"I chose not to let a room full of lunatics beat you to death. There's a difference."

"Keep telling yourself that."

He shoved me through the gate.

I stumbled into darkness and turned just in time to see him get caught by the back of his coat.