"Stay with me, Aria. Do not close your eyes. Open your eyes!"

Lucian's voice sounded like it was coming from underwater, muffled and distant. I tried to obey him, but my eyelids felt like they were made of lead. The fire in my shoulder had spread, turning the blood in my veins to acid. Every beat

The rift tore open with the sound of shredding silk, dumping Lucian and me into the grand foyer of the Solis estate.

The transition from the shadow realm to the mortal plane was usually disorienting, a sudden shift in gravity and air pressure, but I felt none of it. My blood was roaring too loudly

Cold. That was the first thing that registered. A deep, bone-aching dampness that smelled of rust, mildew, and ancient stone.

I groaned, trying to lift my hands to my throbbing temple, but my arms wouldn't move. Metal rattled loudly in the darkness. I blinked my heavy eyes open, my vision swimming