Chapter 29 · Take My Blood

The ring's already open.

I can feel it spreading across my knuckles like a mouth stretching wide. The metal's warm now, almost hot, and the broken edges are vibrating against my skin.

Ronan's still got his arm around me, dragging me back from the altar. Blood's dripping off his ribs onto the stone floor. The Collector's on his knees a few feet away, clutching the gash Ronan carved across his chest.

"Don't," Ronan says in my ear. His voice is rough. "Quinn, whatever you saw in there, don't—"

"My mom told me to find you." I twist in his grip. The ring's pulling at my hand, like it's got its own heartbeat. "She said your blood's the way out."

He goes still.

Behind us, the creature that broke through the ritual floor is still thrashing. I can hear Vera screaming orders at someone, maybe her security guys if any of them are still standing. The whole chamber smells like torn earth and old blood.

Ronan's staring at my hand. At the ring.

"She signed extensions," I say. My throat's tight. "For years. Every time the debt came due, she went back and signed in more blood.