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Chapter 24

Author: Lucienne
last update Last Updated: 2025-11-30 02:23:15

Aria’s heartbeat stuttered.

The shadows dimmed around them, as if the cavern itself had stopped breathing at Erevan’s words.

“The first king of shadows,” she repeated quietly, tasting the weight of the title on her tongue. “You mean like… your ancestor?”

Erevan’s jaw tightened. “No. Lyrion was no ancestor. He existed long before the line of mortal-kings—before courts, before realms separated.” His eyes darkened. “He was the origin. The embodiment of shadow itself.”

Aria’s blood ran cold.

“And he was with my mother?”

The air trembled as if reacting to the truth she didn’t want to hear.

Erevan didn’t answer. He didn’t need to. The flicker in his eyes said everything.

Aria pressed a hand to her chest, steadying her breath. “So my father—he wasn’t a wolf?”

Erevan’s voice was low. “No wolf could survive touching Luminari blood.”

Her lungs compressed painfully. “Then he was—”

“Shadow incarnate,” Erevan finished quietly. “The last remaining piece of the ancient night.”

Aria stared down at th
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