Mark’s POV

The thing in the pit looks alive.

Not in the way wolves are alive.

Not even the way monsters are alive.

This feels older.

The pillar of silver light twists slowly in the center of the collapsed basin, reaching upward like something waking after a very long sleep. The second it appears, every instinct in me screams the same thing.

Protect her.

Rissa goes weak beside me.

I catch her before she hits the ground.

Her skin is ice cold.

“Hey.” I grip her face gently. “Stay with ...