Chapter 29 · Nora, let go!

She grabbed his hand and pressed her bleeding palm against it.

The binding snapped tight.

The hound shrieked.

Nora screamed with it.

Pain tore through her shoulder, her ribs, her spine. Elias's agony poured into her in a hot wave. She felt the creature biting down. Felt Elias fighting to stay conscious. Felt his heart stumble beneath the curse.

"Nora, let go!"

"No!"

"You're taking too much!"

"You said you needed two sources!"

"Not all of it!"

The hound ripped free.

Elias collapsed against her, his full weight dragging her down. She caught him under the arms and slammed her back into the gate.

The red lines across the bars flared brighter.

One of them burned into her cut palm.

NORA KANE.

The letters formed, then split down the center.

Elias looked at the name. "It's marking you."

"I noticed."

"We have to move."

"You can barely stand."

"I didn't ask if I could."

He planted one hand beside her head and pushed upright. His face was close again. Too close.