Chapter 17 · Under the Black Key

Nia's scream ripped through the ruins.

I grabbed her wrist with both hands, but the thing below had her ankle and throat. Its fingers looked human. They were too long. Black nails dug into her skin while her boots scraped against the cracked stone.

"Mara!" Nia choked.

"I have you. Hold on!"

Ronan's hand locked around my waist. His claws punched through the back of my jacket as he hauled me away from the opening.

"Let go of her," he growled.

The dark hand squeezed Nia's throat.

Her face went red.

"Ronan, do something!"

His eyes flashed silver. The wound under his ribs opened again, soaking his shirt. He took one step toward the hole, and the whole floor shook under his boots.

"Don't," I snapped.

He looked at me like I had lost my mind.

"It has your sister."

"I know that!"

"Then get out of my way."

"You're bleeding out."

"I'm still standing."

"For now."

The black hand jerked Nia downward. Her fingers slipped against mine.

I felt her nails tear my palm.

"Mara!"

I dropped flat on the broken floor and wrapped my legs around a fallen pillar.