Chapter 22 · What are you doing?

Dax caught her wrist and held it against the key.

Mara’s breath stopped.

His thumb slid over the inside of her wrist, right above the black thread. His skin was hot. His eyes stayed on hers.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Checking if the bond is spreading."

"Use your eyes."

"I am."

The look he gave her had nothing to do with the wound, the archive, or the door behind them.

Mara’s fingers flexed against his chest.

"Let go," she said.

He did.

Too fast.

She hated that she noticed.

The iron door clicked.

Both of them turned.

A narrow slot opened at eye level. Inside it, rows of shelves stretched into darkness. A single gray page rested on a stand in the center room.

Mara pushed to her feet. "That’s the original ledger."

Dax grabbed the back of her coat. "Wait."

"No."

"The door is bait."

"Everything here is bait. I’m done waiting for something safe."

"You walk in there, and the door may seal."

"Then come with me."

"I’m injured."

"You’ve mentioned it. Constantly."

He stood, using the wall for balance. His face had gone gray now.