Chapter 6 · You really want me to say it for you?

He laughed once. It came out rough and breathless. "You really want me to say it for you?"

"Yes!"

"Fine." He shoved away from the vault. "'If one of us falls, the other comes back.'"

The words slammed through the chamber.

The witness vault unlocked with a deep metallic clunk.

Adrian's knees buckled.

I caught him before he hit the floor. His weight drove me down beside the vault door. He landed partly on top of me, one hand planted beside my head.

His breath hit my throat.

"That wasn't the whole line," I whispered.

"No."

"What did I add?"

His eyes held mine. "You said, 'Even if I have to drag you through hell.'"

"I would never say that."

"You said it while threatening to break my fingers."

"You deserved it."

"Probably."

The mark on his cheek burned brighter.

He winced and started to push away. I grabbed his shirt.

"Don't."

"Mara, let go."

"You said the contract brought us back. So why are you still dying?"

"Because the loop isn't killing me."

His eyes cut toward the vault.

"It's using me to keep the door shut."

The sealed door shook behind him. Something struck the other side.

Once.