The Price Of Power

The battlefield went silent.

Aurora stood beneath the blood-red moon, the Blade of Selene glowing in her hand.

For the first time, the vampires and wolves were no longer fighting each other.

They were standing together.

Morgana stared at them from across the battlefield.

Her expression had changed.

The confidence was gone.

“You think bringing them together makes you powerful?” she asked.

Aurora lifted her chin.

“No.”

She glanced at Lucien.

Then Kael.

Then Adrian.

“It makes us stronger.”

Morgana’s eyes flashed violet.

“You still don’t understand.”

She raised both hands.

The ground beneath Ravenfall split open.

Dark smoke poured from the cracks.

One by one, shadow creatures climbed out of the earth.

They had no faces.

No eyes.

Only long claws and glowing violet mouths.

The vampires backed away.

Even the wolves hesitated.

Kael growled.

“What are those?”

Adrian’s expression became grim.

“Nightborn.”

Lucien looked at him.

“I thought they were extinct.”

“They were.”

Adrian stared at Morgana.

“She brought them back.”

Aurora tightened her grip on the sword.

“How do we stop them?”

Adrian looked at her.

“We don’t.”

Aurora frowned.

“What?”

“We destroy the source.”

His gaze moved toward Morgana.

“Her.”

Morgana laughed.

“Then come and try.”

The Nightborn charged.

Kael roared.

“Attack!”

The wolves surged forward.

Vampires followed.

The battlefield exploded into chaos once again.

Aurora ran toward Morgana.

Lucien followed.

Kael stayed close behind.

But Adrian didn’t move.

Aurora glanced back.

“Adrian!”

He stood completely still.

His eyes were fixed on the sky.

“Something is wrong.”

A dark symbol appeared above Ravenfall.

Aurora stopped.

“What is that?”

Adrian’s face went pale.

“The Blood Moon seal.”

Lucien looked upward.

“Impossible.”

Adrian shook his head.

“Morgana isn’t trying to kill you.”

Aurora’s stomach dropped.

“Then what is she doing?”

“She’s opening the gate.”

A deep rumble echoed beneath the castle.

The ground shook.

Cracks spread across the courtyard.

Aurora felt the Moonstone burning against her chest.

“What gate?”

Adrian looked at her.

“The gate between our world…”

He swallowed.

“…and the Shadow Realm.”

Aurora’s blood ran cold.

Morgana smiled from across the battlefield.

“You finally understand.”

She raised her hands.

The sky split open.

A massive black portal appeared above Ravenfall.

Dark energy poured through it.

The Moonstone began to pulse violently.

Aurora fell to her knees.

“Make it stop!”

Lucien grabbed her hand.

“I’m here.”

Kael grabbed her other hand.

“So am I.”

Adrian stepped closer.

“And so am I.”

The three bonds ignited.

Silver.

Gold.

Black.

Aurora’s eyes opened.

She could see everything.

Every vampire.

Every wolf.

Every hunter.

Every Nightborn.

And at the center of it all…

Morgana.

But she also saw something else.

A fourth presence.

Something ancient.

Something watching from beyond the portal.

Aurora whispered,

“There’s someone else.”

Lucien looked at her.

“Who?”

Aurora stared into the darkness.

“I don’t know.”

A deep voice suddenly echoed from the Shadow Realm.

“Daughter of the Moon…”

Every creature on the battlefield froze.

“You have awakened us.”

Morgana’s face turned pale.

“No.”

The voice laughed.

“And now… we awaken you.”

Aurora screamed as silver light exploded from her body.

The Blade of Selene shattered.

The Moonstone cracked.

And the portal began pulling everything toward it.

Lucien grabbed Aurora.

Kael grabbed Lucien.

Adrian grabbed Kael.

For one brief moment, the four of them were connected.

Then Aurora heard the Moon Goddess whisper:

“Trust them.”

She opened her eyes.

And the battle changed forever.