Chapter 18 · The Name Mom Left

Milo's fingers locked around Nora's wrist before she could reach the sealed crack again.

"Don't go back," he said. His voice came out raw. "Nora, don't. She's down there. Mom is down there."

Nora looked past him at the black stone. The crack had closed, but heat still pulsed under it. Once. Twice. Like a heartbeat beneath the floor.

Caden caught her other arm. His palm was burned where her fire had touched him, skin red and split across his knuckles. He still held on.

"Let go of me."

"No."

"You don't get to say no. Not after this."

Milo flinched between them. His face was gray under the soot, his shirt torn open where the metal cable had cut into his ribs. Black threads still clung to his skin. They moved when he breathed.

Nora saw them twitch and nearly lost control again. Flame licked across her burned hands.

Caden's grip tightened. "Nora. Look at me."

"You knew."

He didn't answer.

That was answer enough.

She drove her elbow into his chest. Caden staggered back, more from surprise than pain. Nora grabbed Milo under the shoulder and pulled him away from the crack.