My body crumples to the floor as a series of cracking, thudding, and crashing sounds fill the tunnels, accompanied by another blast of air that sends pieces of the ceiling crumbling to the floor. I lie on my back, watching the hairline fissures spread through the stone slab, then breaking away, sending a massive chunk of debris falling straight for my head. A large, calloused palm wraps around my forearm, yanking me out of the way just before it makes impact with the ground, shattering into hundreds of tiny chunks. The air thickens with a cloud of debris and the screams of a thousand frantic demon soldiers as the foundation of the castle crumbles and falls away, drowning out all sight and sound with its thunderous surrender.

That same hand yanks me to my feet, dragging me down the passage that leads to the stairwell—away from Dagny.

“Stop!” I scream, fighting against his hold to no avail. “We can’t leave her!”

The creature in front of me doesn’t respond, just tightens his hold as he drags me up the crumbling staircase to the main level of the palace. I look over my shoulder, my vision tunneling as I search through the chaos for the other soul pieces—but they’re nowhere to be seen.

“Stop!” I command, the demon's claws slicing through my skin as I try to pull my arm free one last time. “We have to go back!”

A wolflike snarl pierces through the chaos as Fenryr whips his head to face me, his eyes pitch black and expression devoid of humanity. “We go to Dagny.”

“Dagny’s in the dungeon, you stupid mutt!” I snap, rearing back my free hand to deliver a blow.

Something solid barrels into the center of my back, knocking the air from my lungs and pushing me farther in the direction Fenryr is pulling me. I whip toward the threat, only to find Cyprien’s yellow eyes staring back, just as shocked as I am.

Kaebl and Roark stumble into view a moment later, their skin covered in soot and large gashes staining their arms and faces. I’m so consumed by the sight, it takes me several seconds to notice Fenryr tugging on my arm, desperately trying to move me toward the doorway.

The entrance to the dungeons caves in with a boom, causing a series of vibrations to travel along the ornate floor. The stone beneath my feet fissures, cracking beneath my weight like thin ice over the lake, and my eyes find Kaebl’s, reflecting the same sense of dread filling up the pit in my stomach.

Go, now!