Chapter 23 · The Man Who Burned the Tower

The dragon gate shuddered beneath them.

Dust spilled from the ceiling in silver curtains. Somewhere beyond the black stone doors, something massive dragged a limb across the other side. The sound traveled through the chamber like a fingernail drawn over the bones of the world.

Cael dropped to one knee.

The thing inside his chest beat once.

Not a human heartbeat. Not even close.

A black pulse bulged beneath his shirt, swelling between his ribs before sinking back into him. The fourth crystal, buried in the center of his chest, flashed with a sick violet light.

Lio staggered away from him, one hand pressed against her own ribs. Oro’s power burned beneath her skin, answering the ancient core in Cael’s body with a violent surge. Her vision blurred at the edges. She tasted copper.

Kill me before it opens the door.

His voice still rang in her skull.

She had refused.

Now the door had answered for him.

Another impact struck from the other side. The stone gates bowed inward. A thin line of blue-white light appeared between them.

Mara swore from beside the emergency console.