Chapter 24 · The Voice Behind the Wards

"How long?" Calder's voice cut through the dark.

I looked down at my wrist. The cuff was glowing red now, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. Numbers I couldn't read flickered across the brass.

"Can't tell," I said. "Maybe an hour. Maybe less."

"Brilliant." He was already moving, dragging me toward the tower's base. The chain between us rattled. "Absolutely brilliant plan, Voss."

"You told me to take the shard."

"I told you to save yourself." He spun around and I nearly crashed into his chest. Stone and heat. His claws caught my shoulders. "Not lock yourself to a dead man."

"You're not dead yet."

"Give it time." He let go and turned back to the tower. The ward-light was gone. Every sigil on the black stone had gone dark when the shards flared. Brassgate's protection, snuffed out like a candle. "Seraphine's already inside. She's got the core."

"Then we go in."

"We don't have the access."

"You have wings."

"Had." He flexed his shoulders and I heard something crack. The left wing was barely holding on, membrane torn, bone exposed. "Past tense."

I grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face me.