The tunnel behind them trembled as Evelyne sprinted forward, her pulse thundering in her ears. Each footfall sent loose debris tumbling, the sound drowned beneath the deep, unearthly howl reverberating through the underground chamber.
Azrael was ahead, his dark cloak billowing as his power surged, forming protective barriers that cracked under unseen force. Behind them, Seraphina moved as if weightless, her form barely touching the ground as she whispered arcane words into the air.
"The seal is breaking," she warned, her voice strained. "If we don't leave now—"
The tunnel collapsed.
A wave of dark energy erupted, splitting the ground with a violent boom. Evelyne gasped as she lost her footing, falling backward. A sharp pain shot up her arm as she hit the ground, her breath stolen by the impact.
Azrael was beside her in an instant, pulling her up. "Move!" His golden eyes burned, fierce and protective.
But something was wrong.