Chapter 29 · Until it takes mine

"Until it takes mine."

"And after that?"

"After that, you run."

"You won't be running."

"I didn't say I would."

Kael stared at him. "You plan to die here."

"I plan to keep the thing outside from reaching you."

"That isn't better."

"It doesn't have to be better. It has to work."

Kael shoved him away. Julian's grip slipped just enough.

Kael ran into the fire.

Heat slammed into him. His coat caught at the hem. The flames crawled up his legs, but they didn't burn like normal fire. They pulled. Every thread of heat hooked into his blood and dragged toward the crack in the floor.

Julian shouted his name.

Kael dropped to one knee inside the circle and drove his burned palm into the glowing stone.

The voices exploded.

His sister screamed.

Others joined her. Men. Children. Old women. Hundreds of dead voices crushed into one tearing note.

"Get out!" Julian yelled.

"Break the bowls!"

"I can't reach them!"

"Then break the circle!"

"I'm trying!"

Kael pressed harder. The stone split beneath his hand. White light burst up his arm.