r exploded

the catacomb walls. Dust rained down from the ceiling. The air thickened with magi

shadow, his hand glowing with violet runes. An Elder screamed as the spell tore into its chest, unraveling the il

d me!" Luci

elina

ething no longer bound to Thorne. When she raised her hands, a ring of light erupted from her palms-wh

ck, stunned for

she gasped. "I j

perature dropped until Evelina could see her breath. One of the Elders extended a clawed hand toward h

imbs

Elder. It struck true-right between the eyes-and the

to her knees. "T

e," Lucien growled, grabb

ter, and lit by flickering blue fire along the walls. The Elders fol

domed, with a cracked skylight above. The moon hung full and heavy in

A sanctum," he breathed. "B

?" Evelina asked,

es narrowed. "Cons

esitated at

annot hide behind old stones and forg

nto the moonlight. Her voice didn't sound l

med under

ther Elder hissed. "You

u let Thorne corrupt it. When you

he threshold-and then E

For a moment, she glowed from within, veins lit with whi

ien started, s

ed when her

en't blu

white-gold

he said softly. "Wh

pped he

exploded in a

le truth of what they were-fragments of ancient pacts twisted by time and greed.

ce fo

low fading from her eyes. Lucien ca

up at him, c

appened?" sh

as full of awe-and fear. "You used the

ow I could,"

mp strand of hair from her ch

en holding her, the sanctum pulsing faintly wi

up. "They'll send

el this. So will the other

actured skylight, the f

et them

s and reverent in his gaze. "You're not

e said.

l again, deep

of her wrist. "The bond between

s heart

kno

ld talk

forehead against his. "We

s, exhaling shaki

barely a whisper. "I'

"And whatever comes ne

no

get

sky, a vow born in blood was finally reclaimed-not

was meant t

pire bound

t across the fractured skylight. The sanctum, once alight with Evelina's unle

rm steady around her waist. "We need to

l trembled from the magic. "The p

sed as he scanned the tunnel behind them, li

d. "But strong. Strong enoug

ed, her voice raw. "Am I still

a storm of silver and dusk. "You

asn't sur

the upper levels of the catacombs. The scent of damp stone faded, replaced by the sharp tang of old bl

uarter," he said. "No patr

shaky. "I thought I'd feel free when the b

n't the only thing Thorne took. He tried to rewrite

smile. "That almost

and with his. "And maybe that's

rot. The air outside was fresher, cleaner, but Evelina still

hways, past silent, watching gargoyles. Evelina didn't speak much, but her eyes never stopped mov

ched the edge of the

e

oaked in shadows and silver mist. Her gl

oice low. "I felt it echo a

d forward. "Th

the trails. His court has stirred. You shattered something

arms. "Then we take

a brow. "Wit

. "We need the truth. We need allies who reme

d-just slightly. "You sp

anymore," Evelina replie

shields you from Thorne's sight. There's a place... deep in the Vale o

"Witches haven't allied w

he carries the seal-and something e

ed. "You know

era said simply. "You're linked. You and him.

went

king one bond ties me to anot

idn't

st. "Come. The path to the Vale is lo

g, Evelina fell into

re you?" she

" His voic