The Chosen One

Aurora stared at the silver sword in her hands.

The blade continued to glow, its light reflecting across the ancient sanctuary. Every crystal pillar seemed to pulse in rhythm with her heartbeat.

She couldn’t move.

She couldn’t breathe.

The Moon Goddess had chosen her.

But for what?

“What does this mean?” Aurora finally whispered.

Lucien stepped closer.

His crimson eyes remained fixed on the sword.

“It means the prophecy is no longer a prophecy.”

Aurora looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

“It has begun.”

Kael moved to her other side.

“The blade hasn’t chosen anyone in more than six hundred years.”

Aurora swallowed.

“Why me?”

Neither man answered immediately.

Elyra finally spoke.

“Because you’re the last person who should have been able to wield it.”

Aurora frowned.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It does if you understand your bloodline.”

Elyra pointed toward the glowing crescent beneath Aurora’s collarbone.

“The Moon Goddess didn’t choose you because you’re powerful.”

She paused.

“She chose you because you are capable of becoming something no vampire, werewolf, or witch has ever been.”

Aurora looked down at the sword.

“What?”

Elyra’s voice dropped to a whisper.

“The balance.”

A sudden chill passed through the sanctuary.

Then—

CRACK.

The massive stone doors behind them trembled.

Kael immediately turned toward the entrance.

“Someone’s coming.”

Lucien’s expression hardened.

“Not someone.”

He inhaled slowly.

“I can smell her.”

Aurora’s stomach tightened.

“Morgana.”

Another crack shook the sanctuary.

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Elyra stepped toward Aurora.

“You need to leave.”

Aurora shook her head.

“No.”

“Aurora—”

“I’m tired of running.”

She tightened her grip around the sword.

“My entire life, everyone has made decisions for me. My mother hid the truth. You hid the truth. Now everyone expects me to run because Morgana wants me.”

Her eyes hardened.

“I’m done.”

Kael stared at her.

Something changed in his expression.

Pride.

“That’s my mate.”

Aurora’s heart skipped.

She looked at him.

Kael seemed surprised by his own words.

Lucien gave him a cold glance.

“Don’t get comfortable.”

Kael smirked.

“Jealous, vampire?”

“Not remotely.”

Aurora rolled her eyes.

“Can you two stop?”

For a moment, despite everything, the tension broke.

Then the doors exploded.

A wave of black magic tore through the entrance.

Elyra threw up her hands.

A translucent silver shield appeared around Aurora.

The impact shook the entire sanctuary.

Through the smoke walked Morgana Nightshade.

Her violet eyes burned with satisfaction.

“Beautiful.”

Her gaze moved toward the sword.

“So the Moon Goddess truly chose you.”

Aurora raised the blade.

“You killed my mother.”

Morgana smiled.

“Your mother sacrificed herself.”

“You murdered her.”

“She stood between me and what belonged to me.”

Aurora’s grip tightened.

“I don’t belong to you.”

Morgana laughed softly.

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

She lifted one hand.

The air around Aurora suddenly became ice-cold.

“You belong to the prophecy.”

Kael stepped forward, his eyes turning golden.

“Come any closer and you’ll regret it.”

Morgana glanced at him.

Then at Lucien.

“Two kings.”

Her smile widened.

“How fascinating.”

Lucien’s voice was dangerously quiet.

“Leave.”

Morgana laughed.

“You still don’t understand what she is.”

She pointed at Aurora.

“Ask yourselves why the Moon Goddess created a mate bond between a vampire king and an Alpha king.”

Silence.

Aurora looked at Lucien.

Then Kael.

Neither had an answer.

Morgana continued.

“Because the three of you are connected.”

Aurora’s heart began pounding.

“Connected how?”

Morgana’s expression became serious.

“Your blood can unite their kingdoms.”

She paused.

“Or destroy them.”

The sword suddenly flared.

Aurora cried out as a sharp pain traveled through her chest.

Images flashed before her eyes.

A vampire army.

Werewolves fighting beneath a red moon.

Burning castles.

Thousands of bodies.

And in the center of it all—

Aurora.

Standing between Lucien and Kael.

Her hands covered in blood.

She gasped and dropped to her knees.

“Aurora!”

Both men rushed toward her.

The moment they touched her—

BOOM!

A powerful silver wave exploded from her body.

Lucien was thrown backward.

Kael crashed into one of the crystal pillars.

Aurora stared at her hands in horror.

“I didn’t mean to…”

Morgana watched with fascination.

“Now you see.”

Aurora slowly stood.

“What did I see?”

“The future.”

Morgana’s voice was almost gentle.

“The future you will create.”

Aurora shook her head.

“No.”

Morgana smiled.

“You cannot change destiny.”

Aurora looked at the sword.

Then at Lucien.

Then Kael.

She remembered her mother’s final warning.

Do not let them choose your destiny for you.

Aurora lifted her chin.

“Maybe destiny doesn’t get to choose.”

Morgana’s smile faded.

Aurora raised the Blade of Selene.

“Maybe I do.”

The entire sanctuary erupted in silver light.

For the first time, Morgana looked afraid.

And Aurora realized something.

The prophecy hadn’t chosen her to be a victim.

It had chosen her to become the person who could rewrite it.