The message arrived via Axil- a terse report delivered with a grim shake of his head.
Two of their men, seasoned fighters for that matter, were dead. Killed by "something monstrous," the report stated.
One survived, barely.
Cain felt a familiar knot of unease tighten in his gut.
Losses were inevitable in their line of work, but "monstrous" was a word that didn't sit well.
It implied something beyond the usual dangers of the underground world.
He gestured for Axil to bring the survivor.
The man was a wreck. Bruised, bloodied, and trembling uncontrollably.
His eyes darted around the room as if expecting an attack from every shadow.
Cain had seen men broken before, but this was different.
This was terror etched into the very soul.
"What happened?" Cain asked, his voice low a
