SAGE

The change was instantaneous.

One moment, the chamber walls had still been breathing darkness—holding me captive beneath its weight—and the next, they had slid back with a muted, mechanical sigh, severing the grip of that corruption.

Darkness recoiled, and so did its power over me.

Freda did not hesitate. Before I could so much as form a word, before the name on my tongue could escape, she reached forward and pulled the stake free.

Pain exploded. It was violent—white-hot, ruthless, tearing through every nerve, every muscle, every thread of consciousness I possessed. The scream clawed its way up my throat, but I crushed it down, biting hard against it,...