"Let them go."
Draven's voice was deadly calm, but Elaria felt the rage burning through their bond. His shadows writhed around him like serpents ready to strike.
"I don't think you're in a position to make demands," the First Seeker said, using King Tavian's face to smile. He gestured, and shadow chains tightened around Saphira's throat. She gasped, her young face going pale. "One wrong move and the child dies. Then the queen. Then we work our way through everyone you care about."
"What do you want?" Elaria asked, forcing her voice steady despite the terror gripping her heart.
"Simple. You're going to open five permanent gates between the void and this world. Specific locations where the barrier is already thin." The First Seeker pulled out a map, marking five spots across the kingdoms
