The cavern still trembled with the echo of collapsing stone and distant water.
"It's good you're alright," Ares murmured, his voice scraped raw with relief, like gravel dragged across concrete.
"Let's go home."
Home. The word didn't sound soft coming from him. It sounded like a promise carved in iron.
"Ares." Lara rose in one fluid motion, steady despite the dust clinging to her hair and the streak of blood at her temple. She pointed to a thin crack in the stone wall — barely wide enough to notice if you weren't looking for it. "We'll use that exit."
He followed her gaze. One sharp nod.
No argument.
He handed Shay back to her carefully, like she was glass.
Then he turned on his guards, "Move. Back to the waterfalls."
Boots scraped against rock as they shifted into formation.
"Sis… how did you find this place?" His eyes narrowed. He shot a look at Liam. "No explorer ever mapped a cave system here."
