The knock still echoed inside my head. Not because it was loud, but because it wasn’t supposed to be possible. The temple’s wards were ancient—crafted to hold back death magic, to keep nightmares like Silas out.

And yet… he was here.

Caleb’s sword was already in his hand, but his eyes betrayed him. He knew there was no steel sharp enough to keep that thing from walking through these walls if he wanted to.

“Stay back,” he told me.

“I’m not hiding while he’s out there,” I snapped, my voice trembling despite my attempt at defiance.

A low chuckle slid through the stone, followed by Gianna’s voice. “She’s trying to...