A sound echoed from above.
A low, guttural growl. It was deep, resonant, and filled with menace. It sent a shiver through Sienna's spine, snapping her out of her focus. She opened her eyes, pulse hammering, instincts flaring.
Darius was already on his feet, blade in hand, his golden eyes locked onto the ceiling. Kael didn't move, but Sienna could feel the shift in his stance, the tension coiling in his muscles.
Another growl. Closer.
Then, a crash.
Dust and debris rained down as something heavy landed just above them. The sound of claws scraping against stone made her blood run cold.
"We need to move," Darius hissed, his voice tight with urgency.
Kael grabbed her wrist and pulled her back toward the entrance. "Too late."
The ceiling cracked.
Sienna barely had time to react before the stones above them gave way, caving in with a deafening roar. She stumbled back, raising an arm to shield herself from the dust cloud that billowed into the chamber.
Then—silence.
