Ellie's POV
The chamber shuddered with a deep, hungry rumble. Heat pressed on my skin, sticky and heavy, like the air wanted to eat me alive. The red marks on the floor spun in circles under my knees, pulsing with every rough breath Ethan dragged in.
He knelt inside the sigil, black smoke chains wound so tight across his chest I could see the muscles jump. His eyes burned silver too bright, too wild and something dark inside him twisted, fighting to break loose.
Fiona stood at the edge of the circle, hood tossed back, arms high like she owned the room. Her voice cut through the roar, sharp and mean, chanting words I didn’t know. Shadows leaned toward her as if they were bowing.
I stepped forward. The stone floor buzzed under my boots.
Ethan strained against the smoke. “Ellie… get… ba
