Chapter 40

• "Be still, Rhea," Kai ordered, his voice firm, although his hand trembled slightly as he pressed the warm, sleek stone to her skin. He crouched before her, his eyes locked on the primitive rune etched into the obsidian. The Cradle of Ancients was a place of raw power, a cavern of sparkling crystals that hummed with energy. A stream of glowing, moon-like liquid flowed down the center of the room. Rhea sat on a crystal slab, the chill of the stone seeping into her marrow. Her body was a wreck, depleted by her recent heat and the tension of the broken bonds.
• "I am trying," she whispered, her teeth chattering. "The energy here… it is too much. I feel as if I will shatter."
• Ash stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, holding her fast. "You will not break. We are here. We are your anchors," he snarled, his deep voice a steady reassurance. "The ritual needs to be precise. Lira's diary says the moon-glow fluid needs to be applied in a specific pattern. Kai, you first. The mind symbol. The leader."