Samuel barely had time to react before the temple broke apart.The world tilted, the walls groaning as cracks split through the stone. The force of it sent him stumbling backward, his breath catching in his throat.The figure in the doorway didn’t move. It simply watched.You are not ready.The words echoed inside his skull, not just spoken but felt. They coiled through his mind like living things, pressing against his thoughts.Cassandra yanked him backward. “We have to go!”Samuel barely heard her. His body felt sluggish, like something unseen was weighing him down.The figure took a step forward.Samuel’s vision blurred. Images flooded his mind—A battlefield soaked in blood.A tower crumbling into the sea.A throne, empty yet waiting.Him, standing at its base.Pain lanced through his skull. He gasped, dropping to one knee.“Samuel!” Evelyn’s voice broke through the haze. “You have to fight it.”He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to breathe. The figure was still there, looming

Samuel’s breath felt heavy, as if the air itself had thickened around him. Lucian’s words coiled in his mind, each syllable pressing against something deep inside him, something he wasn’t ready to face.But he couldn’t let this man—whoever or whatever he was—control the conversation.Samuel squared his shoulders. “You talk like you know everything, but if you really did, you wouldn’t be wasting time playing cryptic games.”Lucian’s lips curled slightly. “Ah. So you do have some fight in you.” He exhaled slowly. “Good. You’ll need it.”Cassandra tensed beside Samuel, her fingers twitching toward her knife. “I’m getting real tired of this guy’s riddles.”Evelyn didn’t move, but Samuel could feel her measuring Lucian, weighing his every word. She finally spoke. “You mentioned a choice. But you haven’t actually offered one.”Lucian chuckled, slow and deliberate. “Sharp. I like that.” His gaze returned to Samuel. “I told you—the temple was only the beginning. What you unleashed doesn’t jus

Samuel’s breath was still ragged as he treaded water, his gaze locked on the figures standing on the rocky shore. Their smiles sent a chill through him that had nothing to do with the freezing water.Cassandra spat out a mouthful of river water. “Well, shit.”Evelyn didn’t say anything. She was already scanning their surroundings, calculating their options. Samuel could see the shift in her expression—the cold, precise mask of a strategist preparing for a fight.The leader of the group stepped forward, his boots sinking slightly into the wet sand. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in dark, reinforced clothing that suggested he was more than just a common mercenary. His sharp features twisted into an amused grin.“You gave us quite the chase,” he said, voice smooth as silk. “Didn’t think you’d survive the jump.”Samuel forced himself to stay calm. His fingers twitched under the water, the remnants of whatever power he had felt earlier still lingering under his skin. It wasn’t

---The silence in the room was deafening. Samuel felt the weight of Nathaniel’s words pressing down on him like an anchor, threatening to pull him under.---Samuel swallowed hard, forcing himself to meet Nathaniel’s gaze. “You’re saying I’m some kind of heir to a tyrant?” His voice was low, tight.Nathaniel nodded. “Not just any tyrant. The Forsaken King was a ruler feared across centuries. His magic was unparalleled, and his legacy was one of destruction.”Cassandra scoffed. “Great. So we’re traveling with the next dark overlord. That’s just fantastic.”Evelyn shot her a warning look before turning to Samuel. “This doesn’t define you. Bloodlines don’t dictate who we are.”Nathaniel folded his arms. “Maybe not, but they do dictate what kind of power runs through him. And that power is waking up, whether Samuel likes it or not.”Samuel exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. His mind was spinning. He didn’t want this. He never asked for it. “So what am I supposed to do?”Nathaniel stu

The aftermath of the Paradigm incident sent shockwaves through the underworld. Samuel had made his move, and now, everyone was waiting for the Brook family’s retaliation. It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.Samuel sat in his private office, the city lights flickering behind him. Damon stood nearby, scanning his phone. “Luca’s still alive, but he’s been quiet. Too quiet.”Samuel leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Vincent won’t let this slide. He’s the real threat, not Luca.”Damon nodded. “Agreed. We need to be prepared.”Before Samuel could respond, the door burst open. Rafael, one of his trusted men, stepped inside, his expression tense.“We have a problem,” Rafael announced. “One of our warehouses was just hit. It’s gone.”Samuel’s jaw tightened. “Casualties?”“Three dead, five injured. They knew exactly where to strike,” Rafael said grimly.Damon swore under his breath. “Vincent.”Samuel’s gaze darkened. “He’s escalating. Then so will we.”Vincent Brook sat in his family’