Chapter 31 · Loopbound - Chapter 31: Evan Isn't the Sacrifice

The blast hits me in the chest and I'm airborne.

I slam into the wall hard enough that my vision whites out. When it clears Evan's standing in the doorway, gold light bleeding from his eyes like someone poured molten metal through his skull. His hands are still smoking from the expulsion sigil.

"Evan." I push myself up. My ribs scream. "I know you're in there."

"The anchor must remain intact." It's Nolan's voice coming out of Evan's mouth. Flat. Cold. Nothing like the kid who panicked over his Summoning midterm three hundred loops ago. "Step away from the vessel."

Mom's still behind the glass. The key's on the floor between us, glowing faint blue where it burned through the barrier. I can see the hairline fracture spreading up the containment wall.

"Callum." Mom's voice is quiet. "Don't."

I'm already moving.

I dive for the key. Evan's body jerks forward and another sigil ignites in his palm, this one darker, the kind that doesn't just expel, it *erases*. The spell screams past my shoulder and takes a chunk out of the floor.

"Evan, listen to me." I grab the key and roll behind one of the old analysis tables.