Chapter 1416

A perfect, circular chamber with no floor and no ceiling. The stairs simply ended at a wide platform suspended in midair, held aloft by vines and glowing veins of red-gold crystal that pulsed like arteries. Around them, the walls of the chamber curved up and down, vanishing into mist. But directly ahead floated something new.

A heart.

Suspended in air.

Massive. Beating. Alive.

Jude's breath caught in his throat.

It wasn't human, but it wasn't entirely other, either. Its pulse vibrated through the platform beneath their feet, syncing with the thrum of blood in their veins. As it beat, the air shimmered with waves of heat and memory. They could feel it - like touching the soul of the island itself.

Sophie stepped forward, her voice hushed. "It's been waiting."

Emma joined her, eyes wide. "For us?"

"No," Rose said. "For him."