Chapter 10 · The Names They Cut

"Get it off." Mara's voice cracked. The keyhole burned cold on her chest, right over her sternum, red light pulsing through her shirt fabric.

Adrian grabbed her shoulders. "Don't touch it."

"What do you mean don't—" She reached for the mark anyway. His hand clamped over hers, fast and hard enough to hurt.

"I mean if you put your fingers near that thing, it'll decide you're the key and it'll turn you." His palm was hot against her knuckles. "Mara. Look at me."

She looked. His eyes were too wide, pupils blown. He was scared. Adrian Vale, who'd shoved his bare hand into a curse two days ago, was scared of whatever was happening to her chest right now.

"How do we stop it?" she said.

"We find what it's trying to open." He let go of her hand but didn't step back. "The records room. That's where Theo said the old logs were stored, the ones from the first breach."

The bell was still ringing, each peal vibrating through the stone under her boots. The red light made everything look like an old darkroom, shadows too long and sharp.

"Then we go," Mara said. "Now.