KIERAN'S POV
I stepped cautiously deeper into the mountain, Lord Niko by my side. Talon, Silas, and Master Cedric followed closely behind, along with Blaise, Jasper, Daeva, and General Cecile. My mates, Leo, Elias, and Jack flanked me, their eyes scanning the darkness as we moved in silence, every muscle tense, listening for any sound that might warn us of what lay ahead. The oppressive atmosphere made it feel like the mountain itself was watching us, waiting.
Daeva had already warned us: the crystal was below. But what surprised us most was the sound of water rushing deep within the mountain—a river, perhaps. That made no sense. Everything here was dead.
The walls, once vibrant with ancient power, now looked drained and lifeless. Dark veins ran across the stone, and a thick, unnatural smoke clung to the surface, swirling lazily, as if alive but malevolent. It shifted as we passed, moving like it sensed our presence.
