The beast bucked like a bronco, but its horns allowed him to cling on and scrabble forward, his chest scraping painfully over the bony spines along its back, even as he used them as handholds beneath the shuddering monster.

There was space between its body and the top of the cave entrance, and Cade lunged for it, sliding down its back and collapsing to the ground. The tail, long and thick, whipped back and forth like an anaconda.

It caught him along his thighs as he dove beyond its range, throwing him to the side. It was like being hit with a baseball bat.

Hissing with agony, Cade struggled to his feet, limping toward Genghis’s tomb. And there, standing between him and the door … was another Carnotaurus.

It was smaller than the last one, with shorter horns; its smaller size had allowed it to more easily wriggle through the gap.

Now, it sniffed, its exhalations misting the air. Its muzzle was red with blood—it had already killed that day.

“Amber,” Cade called. “Open the door!”

The dinosaur snapped its head toward him, and Cade gripped the cross so hard in his palm it almost cut the skin.

Beyond, the door swung open, creaking quietly. Amber’s eyes widened as her face peered around the door’s edge. The Carnotaurus in front of her did not notice the movement.

“I have a crucifix in my hand,” Cade called. “I will throw it to you. Get it in the tomb as soon as possible.”

The door opened a little wider, and Cade jabbed the torch at the beast’s face.

The dinosaur lunged just as Cade hurled the cross between its legs. Then he was running.

He turned into Alexander’s tomb, leaping down the stairs and tripping as he landed. He felt the hot breath of the beast as its jaws snapped behind him, and hurled the torch in its direction.

He rolled, and an enormous head smashed into the floor beside him, mosaics showering the air. He dove deeper, this time scrambling behind the coffin, between the statue’s legs.

It was not a moment too soon as the monster’s head slammed the emperor’s legs. Cade crawled farther into the tomb, even as he heard the snap of breaking stone.

He saw the statue topple, falling toward him. Then … darkness.

CHAPTER

56

“Are we dead?” Scott asked aloud.

Cade listened to the rushing water as his eyes adjusted to the gloom where he lay.

He sat up, taking in the baths of the keep. All of them were there, including Quintus, who let Cantelo’s box fall with a thud and a relieved sigh.

He was not as relieved as Cade though. Yet with that relief came a fresh wave of panic. For the darkness was suddenly lit with blue light, and Cade spotted the timer.

00:14:55

00:14:54

00:14:53

“Codex,” Cade croaked. “Is that the timer started for the next round?”

“Yes,” the Codex replied.

“What are the rules?” Cade asked.

“Survive for an hour while remaining within a thousand feet of the keep.”