Chapter 14 · The Gate Beneath Frostfall

"Tell me what that second crest means." My fingers tightened against Calian's coat. "Now. Before that map takes another piece of me."

His hand was still locked around my waist from the blast. Heat soaked through my dress where his palm pressed against my ribs, irritatingly steady while the rest of the room shook.

"You don't want the answer," he said.

"That's not your decision."

"It is when the answer gets you killed."

"You already dragged me into your fortress, used my blood, and tied my life to yours. Stop acting like you get to protect me now."

His jaw flexed. The ancient map lay between us, split open across the stone table. My mother's crest burned on one side. The second royal mark burned beneath it, half hidden by silver lines that kept crawling toward the edge.

Calian looked at that mark like it had teeth.

Then the map shrieked.

Not a sound. A sharp white pulse tore across the table and struck the iron beacon sitting beside his hand. The object jerked upright.

Every guard in the chamber reached for a weapon.

Calian shoved me behind him. "Nobody touch it.