Senna's palm cracked hard against Kane's cheek, and his eyes snapped open, gasping.
"Stay with me!" Senna shouted, relief and fury tangled together in her voice. "Don't you dare slip away again."
Kane's chest heaved, the chamber around him swimming into focus slowly, Talyn and Ottilie both crouched close, tension plain on their exhausted faces.
"The seal," Kane managed.
"Closed," Talyn said. "You did it. Barely, but you did it."
Kane forced himself upright despite the exhaustion dragging at every limb, Senna's hands steadying him as he took in the chamber, the dark light fully retreated now, the ancient pressure settled back into contained silence.
"How long was I out," Kane said.
"Minutes," Senna said. "Felt longer."
Ottilie helped him toward the stairs, and they emerged into the
