Chapter 72 · The Bloodline Extraction

"Mara, move!" Cassian slammed his shoulder into the black iron doors as the guards charged the chamber.

The broken death seal burned across his chest. Blood soaked through his shirt and dripped between his boots.

I tightened my grip on the jagged strip of silver. "You told me to tear it apart. You said it was the only way to stop the court."

"I know what I said." He shoved one guard back with his forearm. "I didn't tell you to stand there and watch me die."

"You're not dying."

Cassian gave a rough, breathless laugh. "My life-tide just stopped. Wanna check?"

A spear cut through the smoke toward his ribs.

He caught the shaft, twisted, and sent the guard crashing into the wall. Dust rained from the ceiling.

Behind us, the Tideheart pulsed.

Once.

Twice.

Each pulse yanked at the silver in my fist. The strip had been wrapped around Cassian's heart-tide, feeding the court with his strength.

I'd ripped it open.

I'd thought freedom would feel like victory.

Instead, Cassian was bleeding at my feet.

"Get inside," he snapped.

"Not without you."

"Mara, listen to me.