ood-red the nig

ng dawn-to-dusk sessions filled with snarling sparring partners, bone-deep bruises, and harsh, c

s the

ft and strange, like silk

beneath t

her chamber glowed faintly silver in the moonlight. No guar

er her collarbone, was burning faintly. She hadn't noticed it before-not until the day

e was silent at this hour-except for the occasional patrol of the Nightfang guards. She ke

h the

in, louder this time

ollow

long dead. Down a narrow staircase rarely used, hidden behind a t

hes lit automatically as she pass

self in the o

o one dar

lead her to a tomb. It led her to an ancient tree-growing impossibly within the stone chamber. Its

her chest

ees bu

vision blurred. Images flashed in her mind-

n scre

n shat

the for

.. a

ren

le ga

ther's

er fingers brushing against the bark. As soon as her skin touched i

ted for on

she j

mist. The tunnel twisted, sloped downward, and ended in a sm

of the room

n it-

ther. The symbol on the cover

or it with tr

ver, a jolt shot through her. Her bod

stood be

an echo.

hair and the same eyes Ariel

mo

ered. "If you're seeing thi

htened. She co

Magic that was sealed generations ago... when the Council forbade

closer, her hear

ic?" she

ast of the Forbidden Flames. Born onl

o life. Dark and blue, dancing w

d. "But be warned... power awakens power. An

e demanded. "

ion was alr

d remember, my daughter... the

ss ret

lsed beneat

hat stirred somethin

und-but something in her soul had shifted.

, climbing back up through the tunnel. The tre

thing had

s. Spells. Old ones. In a language that flowe

el* the power

ient. Da

had left th

st to

fig

w

eral Kaelen noticed t

ircling her during combat drills. "

focused on her footwork, her

brutal-she dodged w

," he

t his blow mid-ai

s clashed wi

s eyes

s

t ask wha

lread

e had a

the crypt. Not to open the boo

f the vision ech

is written

rushing the stone floor, watching h

er to a hi

sealed w

ut: a crescent moo

the mark o

her palm to

or shu

en

relics. Crowns. Scepters. Armor

a mu

eautiful.

s and shadows. At the center, a woman with Arie

iption be

Flame Sh

d back, her

ust a

ust a

as a

rop

r was only

- but dark, rippling shadows laced with deep purple. They shimmered across Arielle's fingertips

dow

ar by elders and scholars. It was ali

aintly on the stone floor. The scent of dust and forgotten incense clung to the air. She

ed in, eyes nar

tub before her. The Shadowfire flared. The candle sparked insta

le ga

en a fluke t

ld *con

ol came w

rush of power exhilarating and terrifying. Her knees nearly ga

ng in sharply, pushing it ba

hough reluctantly obeyi

or maybe from within her own mind. She spun, heart hammering, but no

the hall. The energy drained her like a leech. Every time s

o left her

ry

cared her

s, she practi

h General Kaelen -

e corrected, her words rehearsed, her

adowed depths of the li

nto shapes. A sword. A whip. Once, into w

ined, the more she n

walked past - eyes flicking

er room cracked when

e grew angry - though there

.. she felt

chi

ing wi

it

e night of the

owls. No music. Just the hum of silence

e hidden chamber. The

frow

t light

fingers twitching at her sid

h

and venom, slipped fro

than I expected

eady flaring to life in

a man. Tall. Sharp. His eyes glowed violet like hers did in the mi

rt you." He stepped closer, the

re," she warned, voice

, darling... burn me a

falt

think you summoned it by accident?" His smile twisted. "No, Arielle. You *in

s mouth

her?" sh

Reckless. But she never learned to control the fi

shook her head

rd. "And it will destroy you too... u

ers, you know. She created it. Hidden beneath her lo

" she wh

. "Yes. He thought he could protect her fro

e Shadowfire swirling hot a

ow of your family's past." He leaned in. "But most importantly,

fire crackled loude

"The truth. The w

he vanished into the sha

s alon

ot re

round her wrist like a pet,

ther's

mily's

. her onl

. King Lucien stood alone, reading an ancient scr

up. "You've b

caught. "

u not to ope

pa

so knew y

Shadowfire is not a toy, Arielle. It feeds on

"Then teach me

e scroll slowly,

arned. Your mother didn't let me. She t

ach me?" she aske

found you... then it's too late.

e?" she w

didn't

silence

he dreamt of

urning black

ring her name fro

elle

, her fingers

oom mirror h