SKYE'S POV
The walk back to the upper levels of Nighthaven felt like moving through a different world. The corridors, which had felt menacing and cold just hours ago, now seemed to bow beneath my feet. I could feel the architecture itself—the heavy stone, the iron reinforcements, the hidden vents and hollows—as if they were extensions of my own nervous system. It was intoxicating, and frankly, a little terrifying. Every time I stepped, the torches flared brighter, their flames dancing in sync with the sudden, frantic rhythm of my own heart.
Eryx walked beside me, his presence a constant, grounding pressure at my elbow. He was silent, his jaw set in a line of grim resolve. He hadn't said a word since I’d demanded he explain his secrets, but I could feel his gaze on me—sharp, analytical, a
