Chapter 56 · His Wound, Her Pulse

"Get down!"

Calian hit me hard enough to knock the air out of my lungs.

The black chain shot past my shoulder and smashed into the wall behind us. Stone burst across my cheek. Calian rolled, dragging me under him, his forearm locked across my ribs.

"Move," he snapped.

"You move. You're crushing me."

"Good. Stay under me."

Another chain tore out of the oath stone.

It didn't move like metal. It moved like a living thing, black links twisting through the air, searching. The tip turned toward my chest.

Calian shoved me aside and caught it with his bare hand.

The chain wrapped around his wrist.

His face went white.

"Calian!"

"Back up."

"You said the stone was sealed."

"I was wrong."

"That's your defense?"

He braced one boot against the cracked floor and pulled. The chain dug into his palm, cutting through skin. Blood ran over the black links, bright against the dark.

"Lia, get out."

"You know I can't."

"You can. The west door is behind you."

"And you?"

"I'll handle it."

I stared at him.