Chapter 21 · The Voice Below

"Like what?"

"Like you still have the right to worry about me."

His fingers tightened around my coat. "I never gave that right up."

"You threw it away in front of everyone."

"Then hate me after we get out."

"I do hate you."

"I know."

"Don't sound relieved."

His eyes dropped.

Too late.

The mark beneath my collarbone pulsed hot against my skin.

I shoved him back. His knees buckled, but he caught himself against the wall with one hand.

"You're bleeding again."

"The seal's pulling harder down here."

"Then stop pretending you can carry me through this."

"I wasn't pretending."

"You can barely stand."

"I can stand long enough to get you to the door."

"What door?"

He pointed into the dark.

A narrow passage split the stone ahead. Old copper lines ran along both walls, cracked and blackened. At the far end stood a round slab covered in command marks.

My skin prickled.

I knew those marks. They were the same ones that had appeared around my brother's image.

"That's it," Dorian said. "The well door.