MasukChapter Ninety-ThreeThree ArianasAriana stared at the three figures standing at the end of the three paths.They looked exactly like her.Same face, same eyes, same silver hair.But there was something different about each one.The Ariana on the left wore a dark crown.Her clothes were black, and a strange shadow moved around her feet.The Ariana in the middle wore the white and silver robes of the Moon Kingdom.She looked calm, almost peaceful.The Ariana on the right carried a sword covered in dried darkness.Her eyes were cold.Kael stepped closer to Ariana."Stay behind me."The three figures laughed.All at once.The sound echoed through the Veil.The dark crowned Ariana smiled."You still think you can protect her."Kael raised his sword."I don't need to think."He pointed it at them."I know."Ariana touched his arm."Wait."She studied the three versions of herself."Which one is real?"The middle Ariana answered."All of us."---Ariana's eyes narrowed."Why do you look li
Chapter Ninety-TwoThe Memory of a FatherEryndor couldn't move.He stood on the other side of the broken valley, staring at Ariana's mother.The silver light surrounding her reflected in his eyes.Then he whispered,"Elara."Ariana froze.That name.She had never heard him say it before.Her mother looked at him."Eryndor."The old Keeper stumbled backward.Memories were rushing through his mind.A small village beneath the Moon Kingdom.A young woman with silver hair.A newborn baby wrapped in white cloth.A promise made beneath the stars.Then came the darkness.The Veil, the screams.The Keeper taking the child.Eryndor remembered running after them.He remembered fighting.He remembered losing.And most painfully...He remembered Ariana.His daughter."No..."He covered his face.Ariana slowly approached him."Eryndor?"He looked up.Tears were running down his face."I'm sorry."Ariana stopped."For what?""For forgetting you."She stared at him."You knew me?""I knew you befor
Chapter Ninety-OneThe Mother’s SecretThe Veil had gone dark.Ariana could barely see her own hands.The peaceful valley was gone.The golden flowers had turned black, the river had stopped flowing, and the sky that had once looked like morning was now covered by thick shadows.Then the screaming started again.Thousands of voices.Ariana tightened her grip on the First Blade."Mom, stay behind me."Her mother nodded.The Star King stood across the broken valley."You still don't understand what she is."Ariana didn't take her eyes off him."I know enough.""No, you don't."He stepped closer."Your mother was not simply trapped inside the Veil."Ariana's mother whispered,"He's right."Ariana turned."Mom?"Her mother looked at her with tears in her eyes."I should have told you.""Tell me now."Her mother took a shaky breath."The day you were born, the Veil opened."Ariana frowned."Why?""Because you were born with a connection to it.""I thought the Veil created me.""It did."He
Chapter NinetyThe Voice Beyond the DoorAriana stood completely still.The voice came again."Ariana..."Her eyes filled with tears.She knew that voice, there was no mistaking it.Her mother.The woman she had spent years remembering through fading memories and old stories.The woman she had believed was gone forever."Mom?"Kael tightened his grip around Ariana's hand."Be careful."Ariana barely heard him.She stepped toward the black doorway."Mom, is that really you?"Silence.Then a soft voice answered."Yes, my child."Ariana's breath caught.The Keeper stood beside the doorway, watching her."Go ahead."Ariana turned toward it."You knew she was here.""Everything lost passes through the Veil.""Then you knew my mother.""I knew her soul."Ariana's expression changed."Why didn't you tell me?""You never asked.""I didn't know I could ask!"The Keeper tilted its head."Now you know."Ariana looked back at the doorway.Kael stepped beside her."We're going together."She nodde
Chapter Eighty-NineThe Daughter of the VeilAriana couldn't move.The words continued echoing inside her head.You are the daughter of the Veil.She stared into the white opening.The space beyond it looked endless.There were no stars.Yet she could feel something watching her."Ariana."Kael's voice pulled her back.She turned.Everyone was staring at her.Lyra looked confused, Eryndor looked terrified.The First Shadow looked like she had just heard the worst news imaginable.Ariana swallowed."Nobody is going anywhere."She looked at the white opening."Not until I understand what she means."The Moon Goddess appeared inside the Veil.Only her face was visible.Ariana stepped closer."Tell me the truth."The Goddess looked at her."You deserve it.""Am I really your daughter?""No."The answer was immediate.Ariana felt a strange emptiness."Then whose daughter am I?"The Goddess looked toward the darkness behind Ariana."The Veil had no children.""Until you."---Ariana frowned
Chapter Eighty-EightThe Mark Beneath Her SkinThe creature's words hung in the air."I was the one who chose you."Ariana couldn't move.The First Blade trembled in her hand.Kael reached the top of the tower and immediately stood between Ariana and the creature."Who are you?"The creature smiled."Still protecting her."Kael raised his sword."Answer me.""I have many names."Its eyes shifted toward Ariana."But she knows the oldest one."Ariana frowned."I've never seen you."The creature laughed softly."You've seen me every time you closed your eyes."Ariana's stomach dropped.The dreams.The endless darkness.The strange voice that had followed her since childhood.She had always thought they were nightmares.Now she wasn't so sure.---The First Star moved closer to Ariana."Don't listen to it."The creature looked at him."You're still pretending you can protect her?"The First Star's expression hardened."You won't touch her.""You already lost once."The creature raised one
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
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







