LOGINSilence. Heavy. Unforgiving. The Hollow Realm itself seemed to stop breathing.Seraphina stared at Kael—at the man who had carried her unconscious body into the Rogue Lands, who had taught Aiden how to fish, who had stood beside her when she nearly died giving birth, and whom she had trusted more than anyone."No..." Her voice was barely audible. "Tell me he's lying."Kael didn't answer. He simply lowered his head. And that was answer enough.Aiden frowned. "Uncle Kael?"Kael forced a smile. "Go stand with your grandmother for a moment, little wolf.""I don't want to.""Please."Aiden looked between them, then slowly walked toward Lyssandra. But his silver eyes never left Kael.Seraphina swallowed hard. "You knew."Kael nodded. "Yes.""You knew I was innocent.""Yes.""You knew I was carrying Killian's child.""Yes.""You knew I wanted to stay."Kael's jaw tightened. "Yes."Tears welled in her eyes. "And you still sent me away?"Kael finally looked at her, his eyes red and filled with
The Hollow Realm had never felt so suffocating.One hour. That was all the time the Crescent Prince had given them. One hour before war. One hour before secrets buried for five years resurfaced. One hour before Seraphina's world shattered again.Killian stood frozen, his golden eyes burning with fury. "What truth?"The prince merely smiled from atop his white wolf—cold, arrogant, and patient. "You already know."Killian's jaw tightened. "I said—what truth?"The prince tilted his head. "No. I think she deserves to hear it herself."Everyone turned toward Seraphina. She remained silent, watching, waiting, because somewhere deep inside... she already knew. This wasn't about poison. This wasn't about Cassius. This was something worse. Something Killian feared. Something he had hidden.Kael moved closer to her. "If things go badly... we leave."Seraphina nodded. "If things go badly... I won't need convincing."Aiden clutched her hand. "Mom?"She looked down. "Yes, sweetheart?""You're not
The Hollow Realm had become a battlefield waiting to happen. Thousands of soldiers stood beyond the portal as silver banners bearing the crescent moon fluttered violently in the wind. At their head sat the young prince—silent, watching, and waiting.But inside the Heartspring sanctuary, no one moved, because Lyssandra's confession still lingered in the air.*My son.*Killian stared at her. "You have a son?"Lyssandra looked away. "I had one. I buried him twenty years ago."Caelan frowned. "You never told me.""I couldn't. I watched him die." At least... that was what she believed.The Guardian stepped forward. "Someone stole him."Lyssandra's face paled. "What?""The child never died. He was taken, raised, conditioned, and taught that his mother abandoned him."Silence filled the room. Nyx folded her arms. "Why is everyone's family so dysfunctional?"Kael LSMIRKED. "We're competing for the title of Most Traumatized Dynasty."Aiden raised his hand. "I vote Uncle Caelan."Caelan looked
Morning arrived in Cookie-Sized Morningow Realm. For the first time in days—no monsters attacked, no ancient prophecies emerged, and no one discovered they were secretly related to a thousand-year-old legend. It was peaceful. And strangely awkward.Because Killian Blackthorn had been left alone with his son. Completely alone. By order of Morwen."Take the child. Spend time with him. And for the love of the Moon Goddess, stop staring at Seraphina like a kicked puppy."Killian had reluctantly obeyed. Now he sat beneath a silver tree, watching Aiden sketch on parchment. The boy was humming—content, healthy, and alive.Killian still hadn't recovered from hearing Morwen declare that Aiden was cured. No more Fragment Sickness. No more counting heartbeats. No more sleepless nights. His son would live. And somehow, that terrified him. Because now he had no excuse. No battle to fight. No kingdom to save. No enemy to blame. Only a little boy was waiting to know if his father would stay.Aiden l
The Hollow Realm trembled beneath the Shadow Wolf's massive claws. Ancient power rolled through the sky like thunder, the Heartspring shivered, and the Guardian staggered backward. Even Morwen's face had lost its color.No one expected this. No one expected the Shadow Wolf to stand before them completely free. No chains. No prison. No seals. Only a creature powerful enough to destroy kingdoms. And he was smiling.Seraphina instinctively moved in front of Aiden. Killian stepped beside her, sword drawn, protective, ready.The Shadow Wolf's crimson eyes lingered on Seraphina. Then he laughed—a deep sound, almost amused. "Relax, little healer. If I wished to kill you... You would already be dead."Kael snorted. "Wonderful. He talks like Killian."Killian glared.Kael shrugged. "I said what I said."Nyx slowly rose to her feet. Her hands trembled, but not from pain—from anger. "You lied to me."The Shadow Wolf tilted his head. "I omitted details.""You manipulated my entire life!""I guide
The Hollow Realm shook violently. Cracks spread across the sky, and the once-peaceful waters of the Heartspring churned like a raging storm.Nyx fell to her knees. For the first time since anyone had met her, she looked afraid. Not angry. Not amused. Not manipulative. Afraid. Purely, terrifyingly afraid.Black markings crawled across her neck, spreading like living ink—burning, consuming. She gritted her teeth, trying not to scream again.Killian stepped forward. "What is happening to you?"Nyx laughed weakly. "Apparently..." She coughed. "...being disobedient has consequences."A voice echoed across the Hollow Realm, deep, ancient, and filled with endless hunger."Nyx. Look at me."Nyx immediately lowered her head. "No."The voice became colder. "I gave you purpose. I gave you power. I saved you."Nyx clenched her fists. "You enslaved me."A monstrous laugh filled the sky. "Semantics."Morwen suddenly stiffened. "Oh no."Seraphina looked at her. "What?"Morwen swallowed. "He's forcin
Princess Selena read the hurried parchment note a second time. Then a third. She read it a fourth time, her eyes tracing the jagged, frantic slant of the black ink as if the words might somehow magically rearrange themselves into an order that made historical or logical sense.They did not. They on
The courtyard remained silent long after Lady Nyx and her terrifying shadow beast had vanished into the churning midnight sky.No one moved. No one spoke. For several agonizing minutes, the entire royal court, along with the pristine vanguard of the Moon Guard, simply stared upward at the empty clo
The monster's massive, leathery body hit the palace courtyard with a sickening, wet thud. Viscous black blood spread quickly across the pristine white stones, smoking slightly as it reacted with the ambient light.A suffocating silence followed—complete, stunned, and heavy.Princess Selena stood fr
The sea was restless. Waves crashed violently against the hull of the Moon Court flagship as it carved through the dark water toward the Blackthorn Kingdom.Princess Selena stood at the bow, silent and motionless, watching the distant horizon blear into gray smoke. Twenty years. Twenty years of sto







