d under Queen Amira's feet. The black wind blew arou

led, eyes rolling back as dark energy rushed through him. S

she begged. "Don'

sword raised. His eyes glowed gold, the

re trying to rip the gods from thei

destroying it. I'm setting it free. This land has suffered

our blood is cursed, Varek. Just like mine.

you're wrong, sister. My blood is pure. Our

reason," Kael growled. "H

s own darkness and ran fr

from the altar. The shadows on the walls moved. Shapes formed

ra whispered.

thing wa

ine. They looked bro

y're not waking. T

opened wide, glowing silver and black. His mo

said. It was deep, layered, echoing from b

a cried, grab

d for a moment, the glow

ed growing along his arms. Fangs burst from his mouth. His

back, horro

o.

"He's becoming

ing her hand on Draven'

whispered. "Let m

n them. Her mind co

into his

the blood oath. Draven, stil

sn't alone

th her. His hand cutting his own palm, letting his

by blood and beast... aw

ga

th. He tied his bl

curse deep inside th

't just a c

s a v

gasping. "He's trying

es widene

door. And now the gods

as black as coal. His claws like blades. Bu

It's me. Kael. You're stronge

as weaker this time. He

t... st

n, boy! You are evolution. Y

d the sh

ent a bolt of raw energy flying into Varek's c

she cried. Her eyes burned vio

ees. The beast inside

forward an

. I've

n shard, now lying cracked on the

n't it?" she asked. "This st

and they die. But so does everything t

at Kael, Nyra

ek. "You're lying

ps. "Then take the risk. B

ched Ami

y," she said. "I sa

ed. "What d

s of the First Temple. It's hidden. Buried in t

hen that's whe

h echoed in

I'll let

stop us,"

. His skin turned gray. His fingers length

st a cursed

oming some

gods," he whispered.

ged fo

midair, sword cl

exploded

ight

rotecting him with

ss the chamber. Sword again

old spell, one buried deep in

alm again and to

blood, I sea

t from her feet, sprea

scre

N

toward the altar. "

d into the shadows, trapped

und sho

s were

began to

ira shout

ing Draven, Nyra beh

n began t

. Dust fill

ance of the Grove just a

was si

he blowing wind in

hey sat in the Quee

the fire, his face

aken from the Queen's secret library.

l p

arek is changing. Becoming some

n her hand. The obsidian st

r power. He wants t

we're the only one

what we are," Kael said.

born of a blood oath. But that doesn't me

ieved I doomed you all. But now I s

ch other. Worn an

r

th the earth, Varek's voi

hey will all