جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 50

The bell rang again.Once.Twice.Then a third time.The sound traveled through the chamber and into my bones.I couldn't move.The stranger stood across from us, silver eyes glowing in the darkness.Behind him, the Moonwell churned.Black water rose into the air as though gravity no longer existed.Ronan stood in front of me with his sword drawn.“Who are you?”The stranger smiled.“I already told you.”“You told us nothing.”His gaze shifted to me.“I am the one your mother feared.”My stomach tightened.“Then you knew Selene.”“I knew her better than anyone.”“Did she know you?”“She knew exactly what I was.”“Then tell me.”He stepped closer.Ronan's sword flashed.“That's close enough.”The stranger stopped.“You're protective.”

The sea had opened.Not like a wave.Not like a storm.It had split.A massive path of silver light descended beneath the water, disappearing into darkness.And somewhere at the end of that path was Ronan.My Ronan.Taken by Azael.I stood at the edge of the Moonroad, staring into the impossible depths.Behind me, soldiers gathered.Moonborn warriors.Shadowborn guards.Royal soldiers who had once hated one another.For the first time, they stood together.Not because they trusted each other.Because they were afraid.Lucien walked toward me.“How many?”I looked at the army.“Enough?”He smiled bitterly.“That depends on what we're fighting.”Seraphine approached.“You cannot take everyone.”I turned.“Why not?”“Because the kingdom beneath t

“Because I was never the first vessel.”The words echoed through the chamber.I stared at Ronan.He didn't move.Neither did Lucien.Even Elyria seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.Somewhere behind us, the ancient crystal flame flickered.Once.Twice.Then it went completely dark.I swallowed.“What does that mean?”Ronan's eyes remained fixed on mine.“It means the curse existed before me.”“I know that.”“No.”His voice was barely a whisper.“You don't.”I stepped closer.“Then tell me.”He looked away.“Ronan.”His jaw tightened.“I was born with it.”I froze.“What?”“The curse wasn't placed on me when I became king.”He touched the dark mark on his wrist.“It was already inside me.”A cold shiver moved through my body.“But how?”“My father.”Lucien's face changed.“Our father?”Ronan nodded.“He knew.”Lucien stepped forward.“Knew what?”“That the curse had chosen our bloodline.”Ronan looked at his brother.“He knew Azael would eventually return.”Lucien stared at him.“W

The world went dark.Not dim.Not shadowed.Dark.The kind of darkness that swallowed sound, warmth, and even the memory of light.I couldn't see Ronan.I couldn't see Lucien.I couldn't see my mother.I could only feel the Moonheart beneath my skin.It was beating.Once.Twice.Then faster.My entire body shook.“Ronan!”No answer.“Lucien!”Nothing.I reached into the darkness.My fingers found stone.Cold.Wet.I pushed myself upright.“Ronan!”A low groan came from somewhere nearby.I turned toward it.“Ronan?”“Lyra…”Relief nearly broke my knees.I crawled toward his voice.My hands found his chest.He grabbed my wrist.“I'm here.”I pressed my forehead against his.

The First Blade shattered in my hands.Silver fragments exploded through the chamber.I screamed.Ronan grabbed me and pulled me against his chest as pieces of ancient metal flew past us.One struck the stone wall beside my head.Another sliced across Ronan's shoulder.Blood immediately soaked through his clothes.“Ronan!”“I'm fine.”“You're bleeding.”“I've had worse.”I stared at the broken pieces scattered across the floor.The blade was supposed to destroy Azael.Instead, it had turned black.And shattered.Azael laughed.The sound echoed through the chamber.“You finally understand.”I turned toward him.“What did you do?”“Nothing.”He smiled.“You did it yourself.”I looked at my hands.Black veins were spreading from my palm toward my wrist.T