Chapter 10 · The Door Under Her Name

The crossbow bolt tore through Dorian’s shoulder and pinned his coat to the iron gate.

Nessa grabbed the shaft with both hands. “Don’t pull it.”

“I wasn’t planning to admire it.” Dorian’s teeth clenched as another bolt slammed into the wall beside her head. “Move.”

He ripped his coat free and nearly dropped to one knee. Blood ran down his arm, black in the red emergency lamps. The mark on Nessa’s palm burned at the same time, a hot line crawling up her wrist.

She felt his pain before he made a sound.

That was the worst part.

The curse had stopped being a warning. Now it was a wire between them, tight enough to drag every breath out of her chest whenever he stumbled.

“Left,” she said.

Dorian looked at her. “There’s a wall.”

“Then don’t take the wall.”

Three guards rushed through the vault entrance behind them, boots hammering over the stone. One carried a blood lantern. Its blue flame snapped toward Nessa like it recognized her.

Dorian shoved her into the narrow passage on their left.