Ellie's POV
The chamber shook like it was alive. Cracked stone glowed blue under my feet and smoke scratched my throat. Behind me Ethan’s chains lay broken, but he stayed close, breathing hard and ready to fight again.
The crystal in the center pulsed like a strange heartbeat.
Inside my head a whisper slid in, warm and soft: Ellie… Keeper…
I froze. It knows me.
I felt drawn to it,lik
Ethan touched my arm. “Ellie? What’s wrong?”
“It” My voice trembled. “It called my name.”
A low sharp laugh came through the smoke.
Fiona stepped out, blood on her cheek and black eyes glittering.
“Well, the keeper finally listens,” she said. “Took you long enough, little heir.”
Ethan moved in front of me, claws half out. “Stay away from her.”
But she only looked at me.
“Touch the crystal,” she or
