Chapter 15 · The Blood Contract

Gabriel's hand clamped around my wrist before the ceiling came down.

Stone smashed across the tunnel behind us. Dust punched into my mouth. I coughed hard and tried to yank free, but Gabriel dragged me forward with one arm while his other hand pressed against the wound under his ribs.

Blood ran between his fingers.

"Let go of me."

"Keep moving."

"You're bleeding all over me."

"Then stop making me carry you."

"I wasn't asking you to carry me."

He shoved me ahead as another crack snapped through the rock. Pebbles hit my shoulders. The metal collar around my neck flashed hot, and pain cut under my jaw like a wire pulled tight.

Gabriel saw my face change.

"Don't fight the seal," he said.

"Don't give me advice about a device you locked around my throat."

"It's feeding off the bond."

"The bond is feeding off your stupidity."

His mouth tightened, but he didn't stop. That was Gabriel. Bleeding, half-crushed, and still acting like the mountain belonged to him.

The maintenance shaft narrowed ahead. Rusted pipes ran along both walls, shaking with every distant blast. We had maybe three minutes before the lower tunnels collapsed completely.