"Please," Kaida muttered, tugging at the chain between them.
After what felt like an eternity of crawling in mortified silence, the passage finally opened up.
Light.
Real, natural light streaming through an opening ahead.
"Finally!" Viktor practically lunged forward.
Bella stumbled out first, her legs wobbly, barely supporting her weight. The forest clearing beyond was bright—almost blindingly so after the darkness of the cave.
Pine trees swayed in the breeze, their scent clean and refreshing compared to the humid, musky air of the passage.
She took two steps before her foot caught on an exposed root.
"Ah—!"
She pitched forward, arms flailing.
Viktor's hand shot out, catching her arm before she hit the ground. "Careful."
Bella looked up at him, her golden eyes wide and glassy. Her face was still flushed, her breathing still uneven. "S-Sorry... I..."
"Don't apologize," Viktor said quietly. He steadied her, then let go quickly—too quickly—and stepped back.
