ANMELDENThe chamber exploded with light. Amara instinctively reached for Lucian. He grabbed her hand. The moment their fingers locked together, the light changed. Crimson became silver. Darkness became flame. The strange woman standing before them took a step backward. Her smile disappeared. “Interesting.” Lucian raised his sword. “Stay away from her.” The woman laughed. “Still protecting her.” “Always.” She tilted her head. “You really did inherit his heart.” Lucian’s expression hardened. “Who are you?” The woman smiled. “You already know.” “The First Mother.” “Yes.” She opened her arms. “Your mother.” Lucian’s jaw tightened. “You’re not my mother.” Her expression became almost sad. “No?” She looked toward Amara. “Ask her.” Amara frowned. “Ask me what?” The First Mother smiled. “Ask her why your grandmother created you.” Amara’s blood ran cold. “You knew my grandmother?” “I knew her before she became a queen.” “You’ve been alive that long?” “I was alive
“I found you.” Amara’s voice echoed through the darkness. Lucian froze. For the first time since falling into the prison, he felt something other than fear. Hope. “Amara?” “I’m here.” He turned. Nothing. “Where?” “Close your eyes.” Lucian hesitated. “Trust me.” He closed them. The darkness disappeared. For one brief moment, he could see everything. Amara stood on the other side of the chamber. Her body was surrounded by silver light. Behind her stood the Twin Wolf. But something was wrong. Her eyes were completely black. “Amara…” She smiled. “Don’t be afraid.” Lucian immediately knew. “That’s not you.” Her smile widened. “Very good.” The illusion shattered. A black wave exploded outward. Lucian raised his sword. The creature appeared again. This time, it wore Amara’s face. “You really are difficult.” Lucian’s grip tightened. “Where is she?” “Somewhere you’ll never reach.” “You’re lying.” “Am I?” The creature stepped closer. “You can’t feel her.”
The first crack appeared directly beneath Serena’s feet. She looked down. Her expression changed instantly. “Everyone back.” Lucian barely had time to react. The floor exploded. A wave of black energy tore through the throne chamber, throwing everyone against the walls. Amara hit the ground hard. Lucian reached for her. “Amara!” “I’m okay!” Serena raised both hands. A barrier of silver-black light formed around the group. The darkness struck it. BOOM! The entire chamber shook. Serena’s knees buckled. Lucian rushed toward her. “Mother!” “I’m fine.” She struggled to remain standing. “No.” Lucian grabbed her arm. “You’re not.” Serena looked at him. Her eyes were filled with fear. “I’ve been holding it back for eighteen years.” “Whatever is down there…” Her voice trembled. “…it has finally realized you’re here.” ⸻ Cassian looked around frantically. “The prison is beneath the throne.” Serena nodded. “Yes.” “Why would you build a kingdom over it?” “We did
The word home echoed inside Lucian’s mind. He had never considered the Shadow Kingdom home. He had never even known it existed. Yet something inside him reacted to the word. Something ancient. Something familiar. Selene still held his wrist. “Come.” Lucian didn’t move. “Wait.” She turned. He looked at her carefully. “You said you’re my sister.” “I am.” “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Selene smiled. “You don’t.” Lucian frowned. “That’s it?” “You shouldn’t trust me simply because I share your blood.” Amara glanced at her approvingly. Selene noticed. “You must be Amara.” Amara nodded. “How do you know me?” “Mother has spoken about you for years.” Amara’s heart skipped. “She knows me?” Selene nodded. “She knows everything.” Lucian stepped closer. “Then take me to her.” Selene’s smile disappeared. “I will.” She looked toward the battlefield. “But first…” She pointed toward the Primordial. “…we have to survive.” ⸻ The creature roared again.
Nobody spoke. Lucian stared at Queen Nyx as though the woman had just rewritten his entire life with a single sentence. “My mother is dead.” Nyx didn’t flinch. “That’s what you were told.” “By whom?” “King Adrian.” Lucian’s expression hardened. “Don’t speak his name.” Nyx studied him carefully. “You hate him.” “I have every reason to.” “Do you?” Lucian’s jaw tightened. “You don’t know me.” “No.” Nyx took another step. “But I know your mother.” That stopped him. Amara watched Lucian closely. She could see the conflict in his eyes. Anger. Hope. Fear. He wanted to believe Nyx. And that terrified him. ⸻ “What’s her name?” Lucian’s voice was barely above a whisper. Nyx looked toward the distant mountains. “Serena.” Lucian froze. The name struck something deep inside him. A memory. A lullaby. A woman’s voice singing softly in the darkness. He had been too young to remember her face. But he remembered the voice. His mother used to call him something. No
Amara could not feel the ground. She could not feel Lucian’s hand. She could not hear the screams around her. There was only darkness. Endless. Cold. Silent. Then… A heartbeat. Thump. She opened her eyes. Nothing. No sky. No earth. No mountains. Only darkness stretching in every direction. “Lucian?” Her voice echoed. No answer. She turned around. “Lucian!” Still nothing. Fear tightened around her chest. She started walking. One step. Then another. Her footsteps created tiny ripples of silver light beneath her feet. That was when she realized something. She wasn’t alone. A figure stood far ahead. Tall. Motionless. Amara stopped. “Who are you?” The figure slowly turned. It was Lucian. But not the Lucian she knew. His clothes were different. His hair was longer. His eyes were completely crimson. And behind him stood an enormous black wolf. Amara’s breath caught. “Lucian?” The figure smiled. “No.” His voice was his. But older. Colder. “I’m w
No one spoke. Not at first. ⸻ The training field, usually filled with movement and noise, had gone completely still. Every wolf stood frozen. Watching. Processing. ⸻ Because what they had just witnessed… Wasn’t normal. ⸻ It wasn’t just a shift. It wasn’t just power. ⸻ It was something
Something was wrong. Amara could feel it. Deep inside her. Like something was… waking up. She stood in the middle of the room, her breathing uneven, her chest rising and falling too fast. Every sound around her was amplified—the ticking of a clock, distant footsteps, even the faint hum of elect
Amara Vale had always known one thing— Life was not kind to people like her. Not girls who grew up counting coins before buying bread. Not girls who learned too early that survival meant sacrifice. Not girls who had no one… except one person. Her sister. Lina. That was the only reason Amara
The night air was wrong. Amara felt it the moment she stepped out of the bus. It wasn’t just the silence—Ibadan was never truly quiet, not even this late. There was always something. A distant generator. A barking dog. Music leaking from a nearby compound. But tonight? Nothing. Just the wind…







