Chapter 147
Annalise
The moment I stepped inside, the air shifted.
The heavy door slammed shut behind me with a finality that made my stomach lurch.
The room was massive—dark, foreboding, yet undeniably luxurious. The walls were the color of deep crimson, the shade of fresh blood, and flickering torches cast long, jagged shadows that danced like spirits against the towering pillars. A scent lingered in the air—smoke and fire, laced with something rich and intoxicating, like aged wine and ruin.
Cold.
Despite the fire’s presence, the room was frigid, the chill seeping into my bones, making my breath feel heavier in my chest. It was the kind of cold that had nothing to do with temperature—something unnatural, something that didn’t belong to this world.
And there, in the very center of
