Lucien POV

The opening under the altar felt even darker from up close. A thick smell came from below, like metal and wet stone. I lifted one of the torches and held it forward. The light shook a little from the draft coming up the steps.

“Dante, take the rear,” I said. “Matteo, stay behind Ivy and Mara.”

Everyone nodded. I started down the narrow stone steps first. The air grew colder with every step. The walls were tight on both sides, and the torchlight barely reached the edges ...