Chapter 21 · The Voice Beneath the Door

"Don't touch the key."

Cassian caught my wrist before the Tide Court key could sink into the core.

His fingers locked around mine, hot against the cold metal. The tower bucked beneath our boots. Gears screamed somewhere below, and black water slammed into the floodgate walls.

"You told me to wake the tower," I snapped. "Now you're scared of what it heard?"

"I'm scared of what it wants from you."

The key pulsed between our hands.

Blue light raced up my arm, slid beneath my skin, and stopped at my throat.

The voice rolled through the stone again.

"Cassian Rook. Open the second door. Bring my daughter—"

Static swallowed the rest. Water thundered inside the walls.

My mother.

I twisted toward the core. "What did she mean?"

Cassian said nothing.

That was answer enough.

I ripped my wrist free. "You knew."

"I knew the Tide Court had a bloodline. I didn't know it was yours."

"Cute distinction."

"Mara—"

"Don't use my name like that." I stepped into him. "Not while you're hiding half the truth."

His jaw tightened.

The bond between us pulled hard, feeding me the sharp edge of his fear.