Chapter 30 · The Ring Opens More Than a Door

The tower door is already open when they get there.

Cass stops so fast Mara almost slams into his back. Nix wheezes behind them, one hand on the stairwell wall, face red from the sprint up five flights.

"She beat us," Cass says.

Mara can see it. The door's cracked, light spilling out into the landing, cold and blue like somebody bottled moonlight and left it to rot. The seal that's supposed to be humming with containment wards is dark. Silent.

"Your ring," Mara says. Her voice comes out flat. "She has it?"

Cass doesn't answer. He's staring at the gap in the door like it might close if he looks hard enough.

Nix finally catches up, doubles over with his hands on his knees. "Please tell me we're not going in there."

"We're going in there," Cass says.

Mara grabs his wrist before he can move. His pulse jumps under her fingers, fast and shallow. "If Seraphina opened it, your father's ring is already inside. You walk in there, you're giving her exactly what she wants."

"She already has what she wants." Cass pulls free, not rough, just steady. "The ring's a key. The seal's a lock.