Chapter 14 · The Mark Bites Back

Dorian hit the first guard so hard the man flew over the railing.

Nessa barely ducked before the guard's body crashed into the stone steps behind her. A spray of blood hit her cheek. Hot. Fresh. Real enough to make her stomach twist.

"Move!" Dorian grabbed her wrist and dragged her off the high platform as three more guards rushed through the broken archway. His hand shook around hers. His skin felt like it was burning.

Colin stood below them with one hand clamped over his cut throat. Blood ran between his fingers and dripped onto the old council floor. The iron seal he'd given Nessa was still warm against her palm.

"Go!" he shouted. "Take the east passage!"

"You're coming with us!" Nessa yelled.

Colin's eyes snapped toward the crack in the floor. The pale arm was gone now, but the darkness under the stone kept moving. It rolled like something huge was turning over in its sleep.

"I can't."

"You don't get to say that after—"

Dorian yanked Nessa down as a blade cut through the air where her head had been.