Cassie woke up in darkness. The cold from the rough stone floor seeped into her bones. Her hands were still tightly bound behind her back, the cold iron shackles biting into her wrists. Every small movement sent throbbing pain through her body, reminding her of her weakened state. Slowly, her memories returned. The sound of Oziel's triumphant laughter, the hollow look in Lucca's eyes—eyes she no longer recognized—and finally… the darkness that engulfed her when her illness struck in the midst of the battle.
"You won't run anymore from here, Cassie." Lucca's voice sounded faint, almost like a whisper echoing through the dark room. His voice was flat, cold—no longer the voice of the Lucca she once knew. Cassie blinked, trying to find the figure who spoke, but her eyes were not yet accustomed to the thick darkness.
