LOGINChapter Seventy-SixThe Woman on the ThroneNobody moved.Ariana stood at the bottom of the staircase, staring at the woman sitting on the black throne.She looked exactly like her.The same silver hair.The same eyes.The same face.The only difference was the darkness covering the woman's skin like a second shadow.Kael stepped in front of Ariana."Stay behind me."The woman laughed."Still protecting her."Kael raised his sword."Who are you?"The woman rested her chin against one hand."You can call me whatever you want."Her black eyes settled on Ariana."But she already knows my name."Ariana shook her head."No, I don't."The woman smiled."You will."---The Primordial Darkness appeared at the bottom of the stairs.The moment it saw the woman, it stopped."You."The woman's smile widened."I wondered how long it would take you to find me."The ancient being raised its hand.Dark energy gathered around its fingers.Aster immediately grabbed its arm."Don't."The Primordial Dark
Chapter Seventy-FiveThe Voice Beyond the StarsThe black fragment remained in Ariana's palm.It was small.No bigger than a piece of glass.Yet everyone in the sanctuary stared at it as though it were a weapon.The fragment pulsed once.Then again.Ariana closed her fingers around it.Nothing happened.She opened them.The fragment was still there."What is it?" Kael asked.Ariana looked at the Primordial Darkness."You said it created the Devourer."The ancient being nodded."Yes.""Then tell me what created it."The creature didn't answer.Ariana stepped closer."What are you afraid of?"The Primordial Darkness looked toward the broken Fifth Seal."The First Shadow."---Aster's expression changed."No."Cassian slowly lowered his staff."I thought that was only a legend.""It isn't."Eryndor looked between them."Someone explain."The Primordial Darkness turned toward the group."Before the Moon Goddess.""Before the Heart.""Before the first Guardian...""There was the First Shad
Chapter Seventy-FourWhen Light Met DarknessThe Fifth Seal shattered.The sound was unlike anything Ariana had ever heard.It wasn't simply an explosion.It was as though the mountain itself had screamed.The silver walls cracked from floor to ceiling.Pieces of ancient stone fell into the darkness below.The Queens scattered across the chamber as the enormous eye beyond the broken seal opened wider.Kael pulled Ariana away from the collapsing wall."Move!"They barely escaped before a massive piece of stone crashed where they had been standing.Aster raised his spear.Cassian stepped forward.The Primordial Darkness remained motionless.For once, it wasn't looking at Ariana.It was looking at the creature beyond the shattered seal.The Devourer.And the fear in its eyes was impossible to miss.---The Devourer slowly pushed one enormous hand through the opening.The hand was larger than the sanctuary itself.Where its fingers touched the ancient walls, the silver markings disappeare
Chapter Seventy-ThreeThe Truth Beneath the CrownThe darkness did not move.For the first time since it had entered the sanctuary, the Primordial Darkness seemed uncertain.Ariana stood at the center of the chamber.The broken pieces of the Moon Crown floated around her like fragments of stars.Behind her stood the forgotten Queens.Hundreds of them.Every one silent.Every one watching.Their combined presence filled the sanctuary with a power even Aster had never witnessed.Kael stared at Ariana.She looked familiar.Yet somehow different.The gold in her eyes was new.So was the calmness in her expression."Ariana?"She turned toward him.Her eyes softened."I'm still here."Kael released the breath he had been holding."Good."Ariana smiled."But I remember everything now."---The Primordial Darkness finally moved.Black energy rushed across the chamber.The Queens raised their hands.A silver wall appeared before Ariana.The darkness struck it.The entire sanctuary shook.Aster
Chapter Seventy-TwoThe Queens Beneath the WaterThe whisper faded.The chamber became completely still.Ariana stared at the black pool.Hundreds of silver eyes remained beneath its surface.They weren't moving.They were watching.Kael stepped in front of Ariana."Whatever comes out of there..."He tightened his grip on his sword."...it doesn't get near her."Aster raised his hand."Don't attack."Kael glanced at him."Why?""Because those aren't creatures."Aster looked at the pool with something close to fear."They are the Queens."---The surface of the water began to rise.Not like a wave.Like something beneath it was standing.A woman's face appeared first.Then her shoulders.Then the rest of her body.She stepped out of the water without making a sound.She wore an ancient silver gown.A crown rested on her head.Her eyes were completely white.Another woman emerged behind her.Then another.Soon, the chamber was filled with them.Queens.Dozens.Then hundreds.Every one o
Chapter Seventy-OneThe Fifth GuardianThe silver eyes remained open.Ariana stood completely still.Three pairs of eyes watched them from the darkness ahead.Kael moved closer to her, his sword already in his hand."Stay behind me."Ariana shook her head."We don't know what that thing is.""Exactly.""Which is why I need to see it."Kael looked at her for a moment before lowering his sword slightly.Eryndor raised his staff."Nobody move."The eyes disappeared.For several seconds, there was nothing.Then footsteps echoed through the passage.Something was approaching.---A figure finally stepped into the silver light.Ariana expected another monster.Instead, she saw a man.He was tall, dressed in ancient black robes covered with silver markings.His long hair was almost white.A strange silver crown rested against his forehead.But his eyes were the most unsettling part.They weren't completely silver.One was silver.The other was black.Eryndor's face went pale."No."The stran
Chapter NineThe Wolf Who KneltThe gunshot echoed through the forest.For one terrifying second, everything stood still.Then chaos exploded.The silver wolf staggered backward as blood stained its pale fur.Ariana screamed."No!"The surrounding wolves immediately sprang into action, growling and
Chapter ThreeThe Mark on the WallThe ballroom exploded into chaos.Voices rose from every direction at once.“Seal the gates!”“Protect the Alpha!”“Who got inside the estate?”Ariana stood frozen while fear spread through the room like wildfire.Kael’s face became dangerously still.“What symbol
Chapter TwoImpossibleAriana stared at Kael in confusion.“What’s impossible?”Kael didn’t answer immediately.His attention remained fixed on the place near her neck where the strange silver glow had appeared moments ago.Ariana stepped back again. “You’re starting to scare me.”That finally seem
Chapter OneSoldRain hit the roof in hard, angry drops.Ariana sat quietly on the floor beside the kitchen wall, her fingers wrapped around a cracked cup of cold tea. The house smelled like smoke, old wood, and wet clothes. Somewhere upstairs, music played softly while laughter echoed through the







