Chapter 51: Down the Rabbit Hole

The world spun as Shade and Jade fell.

They crashed through metal scaffolding, stone walls, darkness.

Then—

They hit the ground.

Shade groaned, rolling onto his back. His vision blurred, pain searing through his body.

Jade coughed beside him. "What the fuck just happened?"

Shade forced himself to sit up. They were underground. Some kind of chamber. The walls were carved with ancient symbols, flickering torches casting eerie shadows.

And at the center?

A throne.

And sitting on it?

Lucian Black.

Shade's stomach dropped. "No."

Lucian smiled, his eyes gleaming. "Welcome home, Shade."