Chapter 14 · The Knife in Kieran's Hand

The floor cracked open beneath us.

I didn't let go of Elise. Her body flickered—solid one second, see-through the next—but I held on. The sound came from below. Deep. Grinding. Like stone breaking under a thousand pounds of pressure.

"Mara." Elise's voice was tight. "You need to move."

I couldn't. My arms locked around her. I pressed my face against her shoulder and breathed in nothing. She didn't smell like anything. Not lavender soap. Not coffee. Not the cheap perfume she used to steal from the corner store. Just cold air.

The door behind us slammed open.

I jerked back. Elise's form wavered—half-gone for a heartbeat—and I saw Dorian Kells step through. Two Registry guards flanked him. Both armed. Both staring at Elise like she was a bomb about to go off.

Kieran was on his feet before I registered the movement. His hand went to his belt. I didn't see a weapon, but the way he angled his body between us and Dorian said enough.

"Stand down." Dorian's voice cut through the room. Calm. Cold. He looked at Kieran, then at me, then at Elise. His expression didn't change. "Miss Venn. Step away from the door remnant."

Door remnant.