The stone archway doors didn't just slide open; they were violently ripped outward from their ancient tracks, the massive slabs of rock shattering against the cavern walls.
Out of the dark tunnel stepped Commander Marcus Vane, the personal executioner of the high council.
He wasn't flanked by the standard silver clad vanguard. Behind him marched a squad of heavy shock troops clad in midnight black plates, the private, ruthless guard of Regent Cassian Vane.
Marcus didn't look at the boiling ocean of nectar below, and he didn't even blink at the resurrected predecessor Queen standing on her column of liquid acid.
He leveled a heavy, mechanical iron crossbow directly at Lucien's chest.
"Well," Marcus said, his voice flat, completely devoid of any human warmth. "We found the ghosts. My orders from the Regent are simple. Retrieve the stone disk map, and eliminate every single witness down here. Especially the defective first heir."
