The cabin shook again as another wave of darkness swept through the forest.
"We need to move," Kael ordered, grabbing weapons Tobias had stored in the cabin. "Now!"
Ronan pulled Elara to her feet while Darian gathered supplies. "Where can we go? She'll track us anywhere."
Tobias slid open a trapdoor hidden under a rug. "Underground tunnel. It'll take us to the old temple ruins."
They descended quickly as the roof began to crack above them. The passage was narrow and dark, forcing them to run hunched over. Elara's heart hammered against her ribs as the sound of destruction faded behind them.
After what felt like hours, they emerged into a circular stone chamber. Moonlight filtered through a hole in the ceiling, illuminating ancient symbols carved into the walls.
"We're safe for now," Tobias said. "The queen cannot enter this sacred ground easily."
"What is this place?" Elara whispered, touching symbols that seemed to glow faintly under her fingers.
