KAIA'S POV
The closer Mia and I got to the dungeon, the more tense the air became.
The guards at the gates weren’t just standing watch—they were stiff-backed, tense, their eyes darting around like they expected an attack at any moment. Their hushed voices carried just far enough for me to catch words like “dead” and “gone.” My stomach twisted, and even before I smelled it, I knew something was wrong.
Then it hit me.
Wolfsbane.
The sharp, tangy smell burned my throat and stung my nose until my eyes watered. The whole place reeked of it, like someone had poured it by the bucketful. It was too much. No one used this much unless they wanted to erase every scent in the area. I paused for a moment, wondering if anyone else could smell it or if it was just me.
I looked around, scanning the
