“All right, we’ll move forward, Cass will stir up the ground over Christian, and the rest of us will hold the perimeter while she pulls him out.” Aaron’s directions made it seem far too simple, but they all agreed knowing it wouldn’t be easy at all. “Cadence, stay in the back,” he added, and she looked at him with an arched eyebrow for a moment before nodding. She would stay behind the others until Daunator showed up. Then, all bets were off.

Elliott and Aaron went first, staring at the ground before each step in order to make sure they didn’t inadvertently walk on any of Daunator’s pits of destruction....