The Prophecy Breaks

The silver light faded.

Aurora stood in the center of the sanctuary, breathing heavily.

The Blade of Selene remained in her hand.

But something had changed.

The sword no longer felt foreign.

It felt like an extension of her.

Like it had always belonged to her.

Across the chamber, Morgana stared at Aurora with an expression Aurora had never seen before.

Fear.

“You shouldn’t be able to do that,” Morgana whispered.

Aurora slowly raised her eyes.

“Apparently, I can.”

Kael pushed himself away from the crystal pillar. A thin line of blood ran down the side of his face.

“Are you hurt?”

Aurora shook her head.

Lucien rose beside him.

His gaze never left Morgana.

“She’s afraid.”

Morgana’s eyes flashed violet.

“I’m not afraid of a girl who doesn’t even understand her own power.”

Aurora stepped forward.

“Then why are you backing away?”

Morgana stopped.

For the first time, she looked directly into Aurora’s eyes.

“You think this is victory?”

“No.”

Aurora tightened her grip on the sword.

“I think it’s the beginning.”

Morgana smiled.

“Then let me show you how it ends.”

She lifted both hands.

Darkness erupted across the sanctuary.

The crystal pillars shattered one after another.

Kael grabbed Aurora and pulled her behind him as fragments rained from the ceiling.

Lucien moved with supernatural speed, creating a barrier of dark energy around them.

“Elyra!” Aurora shouted.

“I’m here!”

“Get the Moonstone!”

Elyra looked toward the glowing crystal suspended above the altar.

“The Heart of the Moon?”

Aurora nodded.

“I don’t know why, but I think it’s connected to the sword.”

Elyra ran toward the altar.

Morgana saw her.

“No!”

A blast of violet magic shot across the chamber.

Lucien intercepted it.

The force sent him crashing into the wall.

“Lucien!”

Aurora ran toward him.

“I’m fine,” he said through clenched teeth.

Kael growled.

“You’re bleeding.”

Lucien glanced at the blood on his sleeve.

“That’s hardly important.”

Kael looked at Aurora.

“Get behind me.”

Aurora frowned.

“Stop telling me to hide.”

“You’re injured.”

“I’m not.”

“Then stay close.”

Their eyes locked.

For a moment, neither moved.

Aurora could feel something pulling between them.

Something deeper than attraction.

Deeper than the strange bond she didn’t understand.

Then Lucien spoke quietly.

“She’s manipulating the bond.”

Aurora turned.

“What?”

“Morgana.”

His expression was grim.

“She’s trying to make you believe the prophecy requires you to choose between us.”

Kael’s jaw tightened.

“She’s lying.”

Aurora looked at Morgana.

“Then tell me the truth.”

Morgana smiled.

“You really want to know?”

“Yes.”

“The prophecy never said one mate must die.”

Aurora’s heart stopped.

“Then why did you say it?”

“Because fear makes people easier to control.”

Silence.

Morgana’s smile widened.

“I needed you afraid of loving them.”

Aurora stared at her.

“Why?”

Morgana’s expression darkened.

“Because if you ever fully accept both bonds…”

She looked toward Lucien and Kael.

“…you become powerful enough to destroy me.”

Kael’s eyes widened.

Lucien went completely still.

Aurora’s heart pounded.

“So that’s what you’ve been afraid of.”

Morgana raised her hand.

“Which is why I won’t allow it.”

The Heart of the Moon suddenly shattered.

A deafening explosion tore through the sanctuary.

Aurora screamed as silver energy rushed toward her.

The Blade of Selene flew from her hand.

Kael grabbed her.

Lucien grabbed Kael.

For one impossible moment, the three of them stood connected.

The silver energy wrapped around their bodies.

Aurora felt their hearts.

Lucien’s cold, ancient heartbeat.

Kael’s powerful, wild one.

And her own beating between them.

Then she heard a voice.

Not Morgana.

Not her mother.

The Moon Goddess.

“Three souls. One bond. One destiny.”

Aurora’s eyes opened.

Silver light filled them.

The sanctuary went completely silent.

Morgana took a step backward.

“No…”

Aurora looked at her.

“You were wrong.”

Morgana shook her head.

“No. No, you cannot complete the bond.”

Aurora slowly reached for Lucien’s hand.

Then Kael’s.

The moment their hands touched—

A crescent-shaped mark appeared on all three of their palms.

The prophecy had changed.

Or perhaps…

They had finally understood it.

Aurora looked at the two men beside her.

“We’re not choosing between us.”

Lucien’s fingers tightened around hers.

Kael nodded.

“We choose each other.”

Morgana screamed.

And somewhere beyond the sanctuary, every vampire and werewolf in the supernatural world felt the awakening.

The Moon’s Daughter had accepted both her mates.

And the ancient war had officially begun.