The Varga family led Tyler deep into the grounds behind the palace.Vivian and Alaric had been sent back. These were the hallowed grounds of the Varga bloodline, and the King had ruled this a family matter.Tyler was quietly relieved. What he was going to face next was too terrifying and she'd be scarred for her life.Moreover, he didn't want Vivian to see the extent of his supernatural powers yet. It would snap their thin strand of relationship.Only the Vargas, their elite guards and Tyler went on. Tyler had asked for one thing, the oldest, most ancient tree on the estate.They passed through an orchard where the fruit hung shriveled and black. They passed flower gardens where the roses had wilted. The air grew colder with every step.Then the path opened into a clearing, and the tree came into view.It was enormous. Its trunk was as thick as a house, black and gnarled, and its buttress roots spread across the earth like the claws of a buried beast.Nothing living grew in its shadow

Far away, on a distant mountain where no road reached, a black fortress stood above the clouds.Its walls were carved out of the rock itself. No light burned in its windows. In its deepest hall, hooded figures knelt in rows on the cold stone floor and chanted in low voices.A man in a black hood sat before a dark crystal ball. It had been dark for as long as any of them could remember.A faint golden light flickered deep inside it. Then it swelled and brightened until the whole hall was bathed in gold, and the chanting faltered and died.The hooded man rose slowly to his feet. His hands were trembling with excitement.He turned to face his followers."After a thousand years," he whispered. "The Gilded Man has arrived."A ripple of shock ran through the rows of kneeling figures. Some of them lifted their heads. Some of them pressed their foreheads to the floor."Lord Briar," a follower urged. "Isn't the chosen one too powerful?""Last time, we were too late and he reached full power," L

Before Tyler could reply to Vivian, Annika reached across and plucked the phone out of his hand."Hi, Vivian. This is Annika," she said coolly. "I need to borrow him for a few hours. He has done enough saving people for an entire year.""What do you mean by borrowing him—"She ended the call and dropped the phone back in his lap.Tyler stared at her in disbelief. "That was kind of rude.""I don't care," Annika replied without taking her eyes off the road. "You need to cultivate and become strong. This is not the time for flirting with heiresses."Tyler chuckled. "Aren't you an heiress yourself? Or, is flirting with you allowed? Not to forget the fact that I've kissed you."Annika pouted and said nothing.Tyler threw up his arms in exasperation. "Fine. How do I cultivate?"She sighed, relieved that he didn't explose the earlier sentiment further."There are mystical energy reservoirs all over the world," Annika explained. "They are called spiritual aquifers.""The one in Sapphire City