Chapter 131 Unlikely Allies

• The acrid stench of smoke and burnt wood mingled with the metallic tang of spilt blood in the air. The once-grand chamber was now shrouded in darkness, with flickering flames dancing like malevolent spirits.
• Cayden's heart beat faster as he broke free from the chains, the thick smoke billowing around him like a sinister shroud. The heat of the flames licked at his skin, but he pressed on, determined to find Selena. His bond with her, the unbreakable link that connected their souls, pulsed with urgency. He realised he had to find her before it was too late. When he finally saw her standing inside the sacred circle, it made his heart jump for joy. She hadn't moved or given in to panic or hopelessness. In the chaos, her silhouette stood out, and Cayden walked faster as he got closer to her.
• "Selena!" he shouted, and his voice was loud enough to be heard over the noise. She turned towards him, and through the fog, her eyes locked on his. The intensity of their connection seemed to bridge the gap between them, like a lifeline in the middle of the abyss.