I went still.
Celeste used to tap that rhythm against my bedroom door when she was little and wanted to come in after a nightmare, but didn’t want to admit she was scared.
My throat tightened.
“That’s her,” I said. No one would know that code.
Keegan’s gaze locked on mine. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
The silver thread finally snapped toward the right corridor as if Celeste’s signal had woken it, and we ran.
The passage pitched downward sharply, and I grabbed the wall to keep from sliding. Twobble scrambled beside me, surprisingly quick when fear and loyalty were both chasing him.
Blue lines appeared and vanished around us as Gideon disrupted small charms before we stepped into them.
At least, I hoped that’s what he was doing.
The corridor opened suddenly into a circular chamber with six doors.
Each door bore a different symbol:
A thorn.
A moon.
A wolf.
A mirror.
A flame.
A butterfly.
The butterfly door opened slightly, and I started toward it.
Gideon’s voice cut through the chamber. “No.”
Keegan reached for my wrist as I stared at the butterfly carved into the door, my pulse pounding. “Why?”
“Because that one is for you.”
“That sounds like a reason to use it.”
Gideon shook his head. “It’s the one she wants you to use.”
Twobble crept closer to the wolf door and sniffed. “This one smells like wet fur and regret.”
Keegan shot him a look.
“What? I’m assisting.” He shrugged.
A faint noise came from behind the moon door.
Short.
Short.
