ARIA POV
The cave floor crumbled beneath my feet, sending me sliding down into darkness. I crashed into Lucien as rocks and dirt struck us from above.
"Keep moving!" he pushed, pulling me deeper into the passageway.
Kael's scream still echoed in my ears. The red glow of those eyes frightened me. My fingers clutched my mother's journal so tightly the edges cut into my hands.
"Do you think he's—" I couldn't finish the question.
"Kael's strong," Lucien said, but his voice shook. "He's fought the Blood Curse longer than any of us."
The tunnel widened into a small cave lit by strange blue crystals growing from the walls. Their light showed ancient markings carved into the stone—wolves, moons, and symbols I didn't recognize.
"The old temple," Lucien whispered, touching one of the carvings. "I've only heard stories about this place."
