The chamber erupted in whispers, and the stronghold's pulse quickened like a predator catching scent of prey.
Samantha felt the ring on her finger grow suddenly, violently warm.
Maelith's consciousness surged against her mental barriers with renewed hunger, feeding off the ambient magic that saturated the air like smoke.
Now, Maelith whispered urgently. Let me handle this. You're too frightened, too emotional. They'll smell your fear like blood in the water.
For a moment, Samantha almost gave in.
The dozens of pale faces turned toward them were uniformly terrifying—eyes that glowed with borrowed power, smiles that promised exquisite suffering, the casual way they sat among carved symbols that hurt to look at directly.
But Marcus's hand brushed against hers, a fleeting touch that reminded her exactly why she was here.
Kai.
Their wolf, probably trapped somewhere in this nightmare architecture, counting on them to bring him home.
