MasukValen did not scream. He did not say a single word. He simply moved faster than humanly possible.He stepped into the room right behind Lyra, his black sword already swinging through the air.Kael tried to lift the glowing shadow crystal to block the hit. But Valen's blade smashed right through it. The crystal shattered into a hundred pieces with a loud crash. Dark purple sparks rained down all over the velvet sofa.Valen dropped his sword, grabbed Kael by the neck of his silver armor, and lifted the traitor completely off his feet. With a furious roar, Valen threw him across the room. Kael crashed hard into the thick wooden bookshelves, sending heavy ancient books tumbling down onto his head.Lyra didn't stop to watch the fight. She dropped to her knees right in front of Aurora.The little girl sat perfectly still. Her tiny hands were resting quietly in her lap. But her eyes were terrifying. They were solid purple, glowing like sick, evil stars in the dim room."Aurora," Lyra whisper
The wind howled through the midnight sky as the griffin cut through the heavy clouds. Below them, the dark outline of the Citadel finally appeared through the fog. Its high stone towers looked quiet, but a strange, heavy stillness hung over the entire fortress.Lyra leaned close to Valen’s ear, shouting over the rushing air. "Something is wrong! The guard torches on the outer wall are extinguished!"Valen’s eyes narrowed as he gripped the reins tightly. He leaned forward, urging the massive beast down toward the central courtyard. "Stay sharp. The defense runes are completely dark."The griffin landed with a heavy thump on the smooth cobblestones. There were no shouts from the sentries, no sound of metal boots running across the courtyard to greet them. The silence was thick and unnatural, broken only by the cold mountain wind whistling through the archways.Valen dismounted first, his shadow sword instantly appearing in his right hand. He knelt beside a guard slumping against the hea
The Frost Dragon lowered its massive head, its icy white scales glinting like broken glass in the pale blue light. A low, rumbling growl echoed from its chest, shaking dust and small icicles from the ceiling."Lyra, get back!" Valen barked, stepping directly between her and the beast.He didn't wait for the monster to strike first. Valen lunged forward, swinging his shadow sword in a broad arc. A heavy wave of black smoke erupted from the blade, rushing toward the dragon's face to blind its burning white eyes.The dragon whipped its massive tail around in response. The heavy impact slammed into the stone wall right beside Valen, sending a shower of sharp ice boulders tumbling down."I'll draw its attention!" Valen yelled over the dragon's furious roar, dodging another swipe of its razor-sharp claws. "Grab the lotus and run!""Not without you!" Lyra called back.She knew they couldn't stay in a long fight. The freezing air in the cavern was already slowing her muscles down, and every s
Valen looked at the picture of the glowing blue lotus, his eyes grim. "The Frozen Peaks are two days north of here if we ride fast. But the cold up there can freeze a man’s blood in minutes."Lyra looked back at Aurora. The toddler’s face was pale, her breathing shallow and uneven under the thick wool blanket. Every hour they waited was another hour the dark magic fed on her life force."We don't have two days to waste on horses," Lyra said, her voice steady and hard as steel. "We take the griffin."Valen nodded once. "I will command the elite guards to lock down the entire lower level. No one enters the Obsidian Dungeon while we are gone. If Kael dies, Aurora dies."Ten minutes later, they stood on the high stone balcony of the Citadel's highest tower. Wind whipped Lyra’s hair across her face as a massive, dark-feathered creature dropped from the clouds, landing with a heavy thud on the flagstones. It was Valen’s personal mount a beast with the body of a giant black lion and the head
Valen locked the heavy cell door with a loud CLICK. He pulled the massive iron key out and tied it around his neck."He is safe in there for now," Valen said, turning to Lyra. His voice was tired, but his eyes were sharp. "The magic stone in this wall will keep him weak. He cannot use his powers to wake up fast."Lyra looked down at Aurora. The little girl had finally fallen asleep in her arms, heavy and warm. But when Lyra moved her daughter’s soft hair, the black mark on her neck was still glowing faintly in the dark hall."She is burning up, Valen," Lyra whispered, her voice shaking. She pressed her cheek against Aurora’s hot forehead. "The poison isn't spreading, but it is making her weak. We don't have many days.""Then we don't waste another minute," Valen said. He put a warm hand on Lyra's shoulder. "Follow me. We are going to the deep vaults."They walked back up the cold stairs, leaving the quiet dungeon behind. Instead of going back to the nursery, Valen led them down a secr
Valen’s shadow blade trembled against Kael’s throat, but he didn't cut. His hands, usually as steady as mountain stone, were rigid with a cold, desperate fear."Don't do it, Valen!" Lyra cried out, her voice breaking. She pulled Aurora tighter into her chest, shielding the glowing black mark on the little girl's neck with her hand. "If he dies, the curse wakes up!"Kael’s ugly grin widened. "Smart girl," he hissed, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. "Every second my heart beats, your little princess gets to live. But the moment you strike me down, the poison in her blood will finish the job. You can't kill me, Lord Valen. You are my prisoner now.""You are no one's master, traitor," Valen growled.With a fast, brutal flick of his wrist, Valen didn't slice Kael's throat. Instead, he slammed the heavy hilt of his sword directly into the side of Kael’s jaw.CRACK.Kael’s head snapped back, and his body went limp as he hit the stone floor, knocked completely unconscious."Is he bre







