Aria’s breath hitched as she spun around, her heart hammering against her ribs. The room had changed in an instant. Moments ago, she had been standing in the stone chamber, preparing for the second trial, but now—now she was somewhere else entirely.
“Aria.”
The voice sent a shiver down her spine. She turned sharply, and her breath caught in her throat. Standing before her, bathed in the dim glow of flickering lanterns, was Ethan. His expression was unreadable, his piercing eyes locked onto hers, holding a weight she couldn’t decipher.
“Ethan?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “What’s going on?”
His gaze flickered with something—regret? Pain? “You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his tone laced with something ominous.
“What do you mean?” Aria took a step closer, but somethin
