I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of my surroundings, but there's nothing to see. The darkness is absolute, a thick, inky blackness that seems to swallow me whole. Ember's grip on my arm has vanished, along with the heat of her body. Fear claws at my throat as the reality of my situation sinks in - I've been kidnapped, dragged through that shimmering portal to heavens knows where.

A scream rips from my lungs as something unseen yanks my feet out from under me. I brace for impact, expecting ...