The chain shifted again above them, heavier this time, as if the upper passage itself had decided to announce the coming intrusion.
The sound traveled down through the stone and settled into the chamber floor. Iruen felt it rise through his boots before it reached his ears.
The bond answered at once, drawing the warmth in his chest outward until it pressed against his ribs like a barrier forming on its own.
He stayed exactly where he stood, but the tie erased any real distance between him and Kaelith.
The Demon Lord's awareness filled the space without need for words or steps.
Kaelith lifted his gaze toward the ceiling for the space of a single breath. "They test the boundaries," he said, voice low and carrying the weight of final decision.
The chamber doors opened before Nyxar could reach them. Three demons stepped inside, their movements deliberate yet uninvited.
