Chapter 11 · Don't touch me

He dragged the blade across the inside of his wrist.

Blood welled fast. Too bright. Too clean.

The runes on the door lit up.

My curse answered with a violent twist under my ribs. I grabbed the iron railing beside me, but my fingers slipped. A black line crawled from my palm to my elbow.

Lucan saw it.

"Nora."

"Don't touch me."

"Your veins—"

"I know what my veins are doing."

"You're burning."

"Then open the door before I catch fire."

He pressed his bleeding wrist to the center seal.

The vault screamed.

Not a sound. A pressure. It crushed my ears and drove me down to one knee.

Lucan dropped beside me.

"Stay with me."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Your eyes—"

"Are still open. Keep your blood on the door."

The black lines on my arm spread toward my throat. Every inch burned. My fingers locked around the railing until my nails split.

Lucan looked from my skin to the seal.

"The lock is taking something."

"I know."

"What?"

The vault flashed white.

For half a second, I saw Bram's face.

Not the smug council broker from this life. The Bram from the last night of my old life.