The War Within

The scream that escaped Morgana shook the sanctuary.

Dark energy exploded from her body, tearing through the ancient chamber.

Aurora tightened her grip on Lucien’s and Kael’s hands.

The three marks on their palms burned brighter.

Then the floor beneath them cracked.

“Run!” Elyra shouted.

A massive fissure opened between Aurora and Morgana.

Morgana stepped backward, her violet eyes blazing with fury.

“You have no idea what you’ve done.”

Aurora stared at her.

“Then tell me.”

“You’ve awakened the bond.”

Morgana’s voice trembled with rage.

“The last time three bloodlines were joined, an entire kingdom disappeared.”

Kael stepped forward.

“And yet you’re still afraid of it.”

Morgana looked at him.

“I’m afraid of what she will become.”

Her gaze returned to Aurora.

“Not what she is.”

Aurora’s heart pounded.

“What will I become?”

Morgana smiled.

“The strongest supernatural being this world has ever seen.”

Lucien’s expression darkened.

“And that is why you wanted her.”

“No.”

Morgana’s smile disappeared.

“That is why I wanted her dead.”

Silence.

Aurora felt cold spread through her body.

Morgana continued.

“Your mother discovered the truth before anyone else. She knew the prophecy wasn’t about saving the supernatural kingdoms.”

She pointed at Aurora.

“It was about replacing them.”

Aurora shook her head.

“You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

Morgana lifted her hand.

A vision appeared in the air.

Aurora saw herself standing on a throne.

Lucien stood to her right.

Kael stood to her left.

Thousands of vampires and wolves knelt before them.

The sky was completely black.

And the moon…

was blood red.

Aurora stared in horror.

“What is that?”

“Your future.”

Kael stepped in front of her.

“Don’t listen to her.”

But Aurora couldn’t look away.

The vision changed.

She saw Lucien covered in blood.

Kael on his knees.

Elyra crying.

And herself screaming.

“No…”

The vision disappeared.

Aurora stumbled backward.

Lucien caught her.

“Look at me.”

She lifted her eyes to his.

“That isn’t you.”

His voice was calm.

“And it isn’t us.”

Kael placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Whatever future she showed you, we choose what happens next.”

Aurora looked at them.

For the first time, she understood.

The bond wasn’t a command.

It was a choice.

Morgana watched them with growing frustration.

“You still don’t understand.”

She stepped toward the broken edge of the sanctuary.

“The war has already begun.”

A distant roar echoed through the tunnels.

Then another.

Then hundreds.

Kael’s head snapped toward the entrance.

His wolf stirred violently inside him.

“Those aren’t Shadow Hunters.”

Lucien’s eyes turned crimson.

“No.”

He listened carefully.

“They’re armies.”

Elyra’s face went pale.

“Vampires…”

Kael finished.

“Wolves.”

Aurora looked toward the tunnel.

“Why are they coming here?”

Morgana smiled.

“Because every supernatural creature felt the bond awaken.”

She stepped backward into the shadows.

“And now every king and queen in this world wants the girl who can control both sides.”

Aurora’s stomach dropped.

“You aren’t leaving.”

Morgana laughed.

“Not yet.”

Dark smoke surrounded her.

“But you should prepare yourself, Aurora.”

Her violet eyes glowed through the darkness.

“Because by sunrise…”

She smiled.

“…they will come for you.”

Then she vanished.

The sanctuary fell silent.

Aurora looked at Lucien.

Then Kael.

“What do we do?”

Lucien’s expression hardened.

“We fight.”

Kael nodded.

“But not here.”

Aurora frowned.

“Where?”

Kael looked toward the entrance.

“Home.”

Aurora stared at him.

“Where is home?”

Lucien answered.

“Ravenfall.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed.

“My territory.”

Lucien stepped closer.

“Both kingdoms.”

Aurora looked between them.

“You want me to go to a vampire kingdom and a werewolf territory?”

Kael gave her a faint smile.

“Not exactly.”

Lucien extended his hand.

“We want you to come with us.”

Aurora stared at his hand.

Then at Kael.

Outside the sanctuary, the distant roar of hundreds of supernatural creatures grew louder.

The war was coming.

And Aurora knew one thing for certain.

There would be no running this time.

She took both their hands.

“Then let’s go.”

Above them, the full moon turned crimson.