Chapter 20 · The Key in His Chest

"Step through, Mara. Now." Dax shoved his shoulder between her and the red command burning across the gate.

The blade in his hand shook. Not from fear. From the black oath crawling under his skin.

"Move," he growled. "Before it makes me do this again."

"You can barely stand."

"And you can barely listen. We both have problems."

The Ninth Gate groaned behind them. Every name carved into the walls flashed white, then red. The city’s vows. Thousands of them. Maybe millions. Each name pulsed like a living thing trapped under stone.

Mara grabbed Dax by the front of his coat. "You take one more step toward me with that blade, and I’ll break your other wrist."

His eyes dropped to her burned palm. The command was still there.

OPEN THE NINTH GATE.

Under it, the words ACCEPTED SACRIFICE had turned darker.

Dax’s jaw locked. "You’re going in."

"I noticed."

"You don’t know what’s inside."

"Neither do you."

"I know enough to tell you it wants you dead."

"Then keep up and stop complaining."

A sharp crack split the air.

The stone floor behind them burst apart.