Chapter 18 · The Name in the Core

"Don't touch that panel." Eli caught Sera's wrist before her fingers reached the brass seal.

Her pulse jumped under his thumb. So did the blackglass crack under his skin.

Sera looked down at his hand, then back at his face. "Let go."

"You were about to open the inheritance lock."

"And you're about to lose the use of that hand."

"Cute threat. Try again."

Her eyes narrowed. She twisted hard, using the leverage of his grip against him. Eli swore and shoved her wrist against the vault door. The metal bit into her sleeve. He didn't let go.

Marlow stood three steps away with both hands raised. "I hate to interrupt whatever this is, but the glowing mark on Eli's chest is getting brighter."

"It's not a mark," Sera said.

"It was a mark ten seconds ago," Marlow replied. "Now it looks like the Crown is trying to crawl out of him."

Heat cut across Eli's ribs. He felt it through his shirt, sharp and crawling, like a hot wire dragged beneath his skin.