Chapter 81

Olivia’s POV

I grabbed a nearby rock, clutching it in my hand. Alexander was coming, and I needed to protect us until he got here. The cave was quiet except for the occasional dripping of water from the ceiling. Liam lay beside me, his breathing steady but shallow. Every second felt like a countdown to salvation—or doom.

"Olivia!" Aura's voice rang in my mind again, more urgent now. "Something's wrong. I can't reach Alexander anymore."

Fear gripped me again. "What do you mean? You said he was close!"

Aura hesitated. "He's close, but something is blocking our link. Be on guard."

I closed my eyes tight, trying my hardest to link with Alexander, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t. My heart started to ache. He was our only hope.

A cacophony erupted from outside the cave—shouts, the clang of metal, and an eerie howl that chilled my blood. I pressed my back against the cave wall, the rock hard and cold under my fingers. The noise grew louder, and the unmistakable sound of footsteps e