Chapter 77 · The Heartline

"We can't cut both at once." Cassian pointed at the chamber's center. Rising water swirled around our knees. "The whole place will flood before the lower wards open."

"Then we cut the first one, get them breathing, and cut the second."

"The second conduit is anchored to my mark."

"Your mark?"

"The command seal." His jaw tightened. "Someone copied it and tied the engine to my life-tide."

I stared at him through the dirty water. "You knew?"

"I suspected."

"You suspected and didn't tell me?"

"You were busy burning your hand through a gate."

"That's not an excuse."

"It was the timing."

"Cassian—"

A crack split the chamber.

The ceiling dropped three inches.

Cassian shoved me toward the far wall. "Get to the first conduit."

"What are you doing?"

"Holding this up."

He slammed his marked arm against the broken support.

Silver light burst from his palm and crawled through the steel. The beam stopped falling.

Cassian didn't. He dropped to one knee, blood soaking through the coat wrapped around his arm.

"Cassian!"

"Go!"

"You can't hold up the whole chamber with one arm."

"I don't need a lecture. I need you to move."

I waded toward the wall.