wn sigil, a dozen candles flickering around her like nervous sentinels. The air was

ngers pressed to the floor.

n-she f

cr

enchantment she had fo

The flame of every ca

she wh

pen the leather-bound grimoire that had never once failed her. The pages fluttered, landi

pulsed with a

The tether she'd crafted between Mi

ed, her voice both anxious and

rface turning dark. She approached it cautio

ps, Kairos glowering across the food court. The triangle. Th

xpression

ve fou

re was no more time to wait. If the demons were stirring, if they had ca

be all se

ed in bed, sweat clinging to he

as fa

mourning. She landed softly, barefoot on the damp earth, surrounded by an endless for

glowing circle carved into the earth. Her eyes were s

an said gently

back. "What did

replied. "It's time you

ry brought to life: a castle of obsidian stone, twin thrones of bone and crystal.

pare

Nyxoria. Rulers of the vampire kingdom. Your

ng through the castle walls. The queen cradled the baby, whispering word

d... prot

han royalty, Zahra. You are the last born of the Crimson Line. If th

. "Why didn't you t

was meant to protect you... and suppre

d n

reaking. The demons know you live. And wors

yes, Kairos's clenched fists, t

ot just dr

te," Amari confirmed. "One

hammering in her ch

you are. And soon...

faded, the

asp, heart pounding, tea

aintly with light, was the neck

un dipped below the horizon, casting lo

to meet her. Her heart was thudding, her pulse ringing in her ears. The necklace arou

nearly at t

ool and composed. His icy blue eyes

nds shoved in the pockets of his hoodie, gol

f them sp

ssed he

e began. "No... not

their a

orward. "What

gaze hardened. "And of you two. Both drawn to

ed away, ja

o soften his

, her voice firm. "Tha

at p

finally admi

. "You weren't supposed

you. You knew what I was-who I was-and yo

d quickly, stepping forward. "You were sa

saw them. And I need the truth now-

lling you everything? That mutt's been

t you, bloodsucker? Don't act lik

to be fought over. I'm not some lost heir to be protected in secret.

h looked

yet. But I do know this-if either of you kee

ned and walked away, her foot

n the shadow of the wil

t just a g

glow of fairy lights the only illumination in the room. Her fingers

elt diff

thing

ring downstairs, even from her room. She could feel the rhythm of crickets outside.

wly, trying to

ection in the mir

s stirring behind them. The shadows in the room shifted, bending towar

then

table exploded in a bu

eet, breath ragge

rls around her face. The glow in her eyes deepened. Her skin shimmered for a split second, and her

umbled

whispered, clutching h

nly as it started,

ck to life. The air set

thing inside her

l was w

-whoever she was-it