Chapter 22 · The Door Mom Hid

"Ivy."

The voice came from inside the rocks.

I dropped hard against the cave wall. Cain caught my arm before my head struck stone, but his grip slipped. Blood ran from his mouth onto his hand.

"You heard that, right?" I asked.

His eyes stayed fixed on the glowing wall. They were still more wolf than human. "I heard it."

"That was my mother."

"Yeah. I know."

The silver dust in our lungs made every breath taste like a mouthful of coins. Green light crawled through the stone around us, brighter with every drop of blood leaking from my bond mark.

"Ivy, move." Cain shoved himself upright. His knees nearly gave out. "Mara's coming back."

"You said she was down."

"I said I bought us time. Don't make me explain the difference."

Behind us, the collapsed entrance groaned. Stone rolled over stone. The sound shook dust from the ceiling.

My mother's voice came again, softer this time.

"Ivy..."

I pressed my bleeding wrist against my chest. "Mom?"

The cave answered with a deep crack.

The wall at the far end split open—not broken, not blasted apart. It slid sideways like a hidden door.