Page 70 of The Fifth Heir

My pulse jumped.

“Sebastian!”

His head turned.

I froze.

He had heard me.

I pressed both hands against the violet channel. Shadow-cold climbed my wrists.

“Don’t move forward. There’s a break in the floor.”

He looked down, though darkness covered everything beneath his boots.

“Talia?”

His voice came through the stone, faint and distorted.

“Yes.”

“Where are you?”

“The center chamber. I can see your path.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. The clear rune is connected to all four.”

A burst of wind drowned his answer.

The Storm channel brightened beside me.

Shadow rushed over Sebastian’s legs.

“Rafe is feeding wind into your corridor,” I said. “It’s spreading your darkness faster.”

“The Trial is linking the paths.”

“Yes. Leander and Torren are affecting each other too.”

Sebastian lowered one hand. Violet light gathered at his fingertips, but he did not release more Shadow.

“Can you speak to the others?”

“I haven’t tried through their channels.”

“Do it.”

The connection vanished.

I pressed the Fire line.

Torren had relit the second brazier. He stood before the third, studying the flame carved into its base.

“Torren.”

He turned immediately.