Chapter 18 · The Living Key

Micah’s thumbs dug into my throat hard enough to make my vision jump.

I clawed at his wrists, but he was stronger than he looked. Not normal strong. Gate strong. His eyes had gone black again, all the way through, like somebody had poured ink behind them.

“Micah.” My voice came out wrecked. “Hey. Look at me.”

His mouth opened.

The thing behind him smiled.

“Home,” it said through my brother’s teeth.

Then the platform vanished.

Not really. I could still feel concrete under my boots. Still smell old rainwater, hot metal, and the burned-oil stink from the dead train tracks. But something else pushed through it. A hallway. Green walls. Cheap carpet. The old apartment building from when I was six.

The green door stood at the end of the platform.

It wasn’t supposed to be there.

My brass key went hot in my pocket.

“No.” I kicked at Micah’s knee. “No, no, no. You don’t get to do that.”

His grip tightened.

My back hit one of the station pillars. Pain snapped up my spine. Somewhere to my left, Elias shouted my name.

The blood pact answered before I could.

A brutal ache ripped across my ribs.