Chapter 13 · The Room Without a Clock

"Mara, get away from the table!" Calder slammed into her from behind, one arm locking around her waist as the floor split open under her boots.

She swung an elbow at his ribs. He caught it before it landed and dragged her back against his chest.

"Let go of me!"

"Gladly. Step away first."

The table in front of them was fading.

Not breaking. Not burning. Fading.

Its edges had gone pale, then transparent. The metal legs blinked in and out of existence. A handprint appeared in the wood, pressed from the other side.

Mara stopped fighting.

"That’s him," she whispered.

Calder’s hold tightened. His mouth brushed the top of her ear as he spoke.

"Who?"

"My brother."

The handprint pushed deeper. Fingers stretched through the tabletop like the wood was only a bad memory.

Mara shoved hard against Calder’s arm. "Tomas!"

The fingers jerked.

A voice came through the table, thin and warped by distance.

"Mara?"

Her chest locked up.

"Tomas, I’m here. I’m coming."

"Don’t—" His voice cracked. "Don’t let Calder ring the bell."

Calder went still behind her.

Mara felt the change in him before she saw it. His breathing stopped.