The world collapsed beneath them.

Lyla barely had time to gasp before the floor gave way, the ancient stone crumbling into darkness.

The fall was fast, brutal, endless.

Air rushed past her ears. The scent of damp earth and old magic coiled around her, pulling her down.

Then impact.

Lyla hit the ground hard, rolling instinctively to absorb the blow. Dust and debris rained down, but she forced herself up, coughing, blinking into the dark.

"Lyla!"

Eli’s voice.

A few feet away, he ...