Chapter 25 · The Door That Remembered

"You don't get to make this call alone." Mina caught my wrist before I made it five steps toward the alley exit. The copper lines under my skin pulled east, sharp as a hook through my ribs.

"Let go."

"No." Her fingers tightened. "You broke the master line. Half the city felt it. Gideon felt it. And now you're sprinting toward whatever woke up out there like you're the only person who can die."

"It knows my name."

"It knows the line you broke." She dragged me back. "That's not the same thing."

I turned on her. We were close enough for rain to bead on her lashes and for me to feel the heat of her palm through my sleeve.

"You felt it too," I said. "Don't lie."

Her jaw flexed. For one hard second, she looked ready to argue. Then she released me and stepped back.

"Yeah," she said. "I felt it."

"Then you know I have to go."

"I know you want to go. That's different."

"Mina—"

"What's the plan? Walk up to a sealed tower, knock, and hope it doesn't eat you like it ate everyone else?"

"It lit up for me.