“Our apologies,” Adam said quickly, stepping forward with a respectful bow. “Greetings, honored witches.”
There were five of them, each cloaked from head to toe. None returned the greeting. They merely inclined their heads ever so slightly before resuming the low, haunting chant that echoed through the chamber.
“Silence,” Petal warned without looking back. “They cannot work through distractions.”
The room obeyed at once.
An eerie hush settled over the chamber. The only sounds that remained were the witches’ voices weaving together in an ancient tongue none of them recognized. Candle flames trembled despite the absence of wind, and strange symbols etched into the stone floor began to glow faintly beneath their feet.
The chanting continued, growing steadier, heavier, until it felt less
