Ava’s POV
The chill seeped through my bones as we went further into the gloom of the stronghold’s depths. Every breath felt heavier, each step louder than it should have been. I kept close to Eli, his presence a beacon in this suffocating atmosphere. Lucia led the way, her actions tight but methodical. I didn’t trust her, but for now, we needed her information.
My fingers curled around the hilt of my blade. “How much further?” I said, the air surrounding us heavy with the aroma of moist stone and something far more ominous.
“Not far,” Lucia answered, her voice quiet. “But we’ll have to be careful. There are traps.”
“Convenient,” I mumbled under my breath. She opted not to answer, but I caught the flare of strain in her shoulders.
The tunnel narrowed, requiring us to walk in single fil
