Chapter 18

Aurelia POV

The pitch-black sub-basement smelled of rust, stagnant water, and damp concrete. Up above, the heavy thud of fists and tactical boots hammering against the iron bulkhead echoed down the concrete stairwell, accompanied by the muffled, frantic shouts of Draven’s men trying to force the breach.

“Keep moving,” Ronan rasped, his hand gripping my elbow to keep me upright.

We stumbled down the slippery steps into the narrow drainage tunnels beneath the outpost. Every step felt like dragging lead blocks. The null-iron cuffs around my wrists were cracked and smoking from my magic’s golden surge, but the heavy metal still bit into my flesh, suppressing my strength and leaving me dizzy.

Ronan wasn’t faring any better. A jagged piece of stone from the explosion was embedded near his collarbone, soaking his tactical vest in dark blood. He pressed one gloved hand hard against the wound, his breath coming in ragged, shallow hitches.

“We don’t have l