Ariel stood in front of the cave, stunned as she stared at the spot where Eli had vanished.
He had taken only a single step into the cave, and then he was gone.
No sound. No flash of light. No indication that anything had happened at all.
Her ears twitched as she cautiously moved closer, keeping her body low while studying the entrance.
The darkness inside wasn't normal.
It was thick, unnaturally so, as though the cave had been filled with liquid shadow. The longer she stared into it, the more uncomfortable she became. Every instinct she possessed warned her to stay away.
And Eli had walked straight into that?
There was no way he hadn't sensed it. The ominous feeling rolling out of the cave was impossible to miss.
Ariel closed her eyes and focused.
The bond between them immediately came into view.
For a few moments, she remained completely still, searching for any sign of injury or distress. When she found none, some of the tension left her shoulders.
