A heavy silence settled over the chamber.
The figure in the shadows smiled, its violet eyes burning with a hunger that made Selene's blood run cold. The torches along the walls flickered wildly, their light struggling against the suffocating darkness pressing in.
Lucian's grip on his sword tightened. "Harbinger of Night," he said, voice low, deadly. "I thought you were only a myth."
The creature chuckled. "Ah, myths. Convenient little stories mortals tell themselves to feel safe." It stepped forward, the air around it warping with every movement. "I assure you, lost prince, I am very real."
Selene's fire flared instinctively, the blue flames licking up her arms. The Harbinger's eyes flicked to her, interest gleaming in their depths.
"And you," it purred, tilting its head. "The Celestial Flame reborn. What a delightful surprise."
Selene clenched her fists. "I don't care who you are. You won't touch us."
The Harbinger laughed. "Oh, little ember, you still don't understand. I didn't come to fight you."
Selene's breath hitched.
Lucian tensed. "Then why are you here?"
The Harbinger's gaze flickered to Valerian, its expression turning mocking.
"To finish what he started."
Valerian's silver eyes darkened. "You overestimate yourself."
The Harbinger smirked. "Do I?"
And then—
The shadows attacked.
A wave of pure darknessexploded from the Harbinger's form, rushing toward them like a living beast.
Lucian moved first.
His sword flashed, slicing through the tendrils of darkness as they reached for him. He spun, driving his blade through a wraith-like creature that had materialized from the Harbinger's energy.
Selene reacted on instinct.
She threw out her hands, her celestial flames colliding with the incoming shadows. The moment they touched, the air sizzled, the two forces clashing violently.
The Harbinger hissed in annoyance. "Ah, so you really are the flame."
Selene's heart pounded.
Her fire was the only thing keeping the darkness at bay. But it wasn't enough. The shadows were still pressing in, inching closer.
Valerian suddenly moved.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent a pulse of his own magic into the fray—shadows clashing against shadows.
The entire chamber shook.
Lucian's jaw tightened. "Damn it, we can't keep this up forever."
The Harbinger grinned. "You won't have to."
Then, before anyone could react, it vanished.
Selene barely had time to process before she felt ice-cold fingersgrip her throat.
She gasped.
The Harbinger had moved behind her in an instant, its hand tightening around her neck.
Lucian spun toward her. "Selene—!"
But before he could move, the Harbinger's shadow tendrils lashed out, slamming him against the wall.
Lucian groaned, struggling against the restraints, his silver eyes burning with fury. "Let her go."
Selene clawed at the Harbinger's grip, her fire raging against its skin—but it didn't burn.
It only absorbed.
A slow, cruel smile spread across the Harbinger's face. "Ah. There it is. The power of creation itself."
Selene's vision blurred, darkness creeping into her mind as the Harbinger's magic sank into her.
She could feel it.
Something ancient.
Something wrong.
It was trying to take her power.
Trying to consume it.
Lucian roared, his entire body surging with energy. In a burst of pure force, he shattered the shadows holding him back.
His sword glowed, its edge radiating silver light as he lunged forward.
The Harbinger laughed.
And then—
Everything erupted into chaos.
End of Chapter Thirty-Eight