Chapter 22 · Nothing Stays Buried

The door under Nora's boots unlocked with a sound like a giant taking a breath.

She jumped back. The stone shifted anyway. A black line split the floor between her feet, glowing red underneath. Heat punched through her shoes and climbed straight into her bones.

Milo's voice came from the speaker in her hand.

'If you're hearing this, Nora, he found you. Don't let Caden take you down there.'

The recording clicked off.

Nora stared at the crack. Her ring sat in her palm, hot enough to sting. Caden had worn its matching half for weeks. He'd used it to control her fire. He'd used it to lie to her.

And then she'd let him fall.

A metal chain snapped somewhere below.

Nora dropped to her knees and shoved both hands against the stone. 'Caden?'

No answer.

The crack widened. The floor tilted under her. Something grabbed the back of her coat and yanked. She slammed onto her stomach, fingers scraping for purchase while the opening tore across the tunnel.

Down in the red dark, a hand caught the edge.

Caden's hand.

His fingers were burned black at the tips. Blood ran over his knuckles and disappeared into the light.