Alaric stepped fully into the cell.
Arin followed behind him, and the heavy door closed with a dull thud that echoed through the corridor. The air down here was cold and damp with the smell of iron.
The moment Aidan saw Alaric, he moved closer. "How is Daphne?" he asked, worry written all over his face. "Is she..."
"She's resting," Alaric cut in.
Aidan let out a breath he'd clearly been holding. "Good."
Alaric didn't waste another second. His attention shifted to the Architect who was bound to a chair at the center of the room. His shirt was torn, and his face bruised, one eye already swelling.
Yet he looked… calm.
He lifted his head slowly when he sensed them, eyes settling first on Arin. A small smile curved his lips.
"Well," he said lightly, "we meet again."
Arin glared at him while Alaric walked forward until he was standing right in front of him, close enough that Arel had to tilt his head back to look up at him.
