The air inside the tunnel was thick—not just with dust, but with something deeper, something ancient. It pressed against Selina’s skin, making the hairs on her arms rise. Each breath she took carried the scent of damp stone and decay, laced with a strange, metallic tang that made her stomach twist.
Her torch flickered, casting restless shadows along the tunnel walls. The symbols carved into the stone were barely visible beneath layers of grime, but she could feel them watching.
Zane moved beside her, silent, his expression unreadable. His shoulders were tense, his fingers twitching near the hilt of his weapon. He didn’t like this—none of them did—but he had been the first to step forward.
Behind them, Owen and Elira followed, their movements cautious. Kiera had been left behind at the o
