The word from below hit the room like a match on dry paper.
Good.
Kael's chain jerked once and his whole body locked up. The mark on his wrist flared bright under the shrine light. Lyria saw it spread another inch up his forearm and felt her stomach drop.
Nobody moved for half a beat.
Then Kael swore.
He dug his boot into the stone and tried to pull back from the opening in the floor, but the chain only tightened harder. Ronan dropped low and grabbed it with both hands. Mira lunged in beside him and got a grip too.
"Pull!" she snapped.
"I am pulling," Ronan grunted through his teeth.
The silver line on Kael's wrist pulsed again.
Lyria dropped to her knees beside him. "Kael."
He looked up at her. His face was tight, jaw hard, eyes bright with pain and anger. "Don't let it take me."
That was all he had time to say before the seam under the shrine split wider.
Dust shot up. The lower chamber gave a rough groan. And then the man inside it climbed into view.
