Chapter 24 · The Last Forbidden Vow

"Let go of her! Lucan, let go!"

His hand was still around my throat. Not squeezing to kill. Just holding me there. Like he forgot how to let go.

"Lucan!" I clawed at his wrist. "Hey. Hey, it's me. It's Mara. Look at me."

His eyes weren't his. They were lit up from the inside, that sick white glow eating the blue. The curse was all the way up now. Veins black at his temples. Breath too hot against my face.

"Contract," he rasped. "Broken. You— you left."

"I didn't leave you, you idiot!" I choked out. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

"Progress?" Sera's voice cut right through from the doorway. Cool. Amused. "My god, Lucan. Is that how you greet your anchor?"

He didn't let go. His grip twitched. Tighter, then looser. Like two things fighting inside his hand.

"Sera," I gasped. "Get away from him. Get away from Noah."

"Oh, Mara." She stepped into the light, heels clicking on the core chamber floor. "You were supposed to bring him to me intact. Not trigger him early."

Noah was behind her. Or what was left of him.