The battlefield was silent, save for the whisper of the mist swirling around them.Selene stood frozen, her sword hanging limp at her side, as the man she loved — the man she had crossed oceans and burned kingdoms to save — now stood crowned in shadows and golden light.Adrian’s power radiated outward, pressing against her like a physical force.Every masked warrior had dropped to one knee, heads bowed in perfect obedience.And half of her own soldiers — men and women who had sworn their lives to Selene — now knelt as well, their faces blank, eyes clouded with unnatural darkness.“No…” Selene’s voice cracked.Her heart hammered in her chest.“Adrian, stop this. Please.”Adrian’s gaze swept over the battlefield like a king surveying his domain.When his eyes finally settled on her, there was a flicker of emotion — a ghost of the man she knew — before it vanished beneath icy detachment.“You came for me,” he said simply, his voice deep and resonant, carrying over the mist.“I knew you w

The camp was silent in the hours before dawn, save for the occasional crackle of a dying fire and the soft murmur of soldiers dreaming, or haunted by nightmares they couldn’t escape.Selene walked through it like a ghost, her cloak drawn tightly around her to hide the storm brewing inside her chest.Every step felt heavier than the last.Today, she wasn’t just leading soldiers into battle.She was leading them into the unknown — into the heart of darkness, where even hope might be devoured.At the center of camp, a handful of torches burned in a circle, throwing jagged shadows across the frosted earth.Kael and Darion were already there, waiting. Darion paced like a caged animal, while Kael stood perfectly still, arms crossed, his face calm but tense.Selene stepped into the circle and raised her voice.“Before us lies a path few would dare to tread,” she began, her gaze sweeping across the warriors gathered before her.“Beyond that river is not merely an enemy camp, but a fortress of

The hall trembled as the massive doors slammed shut behind Selene, Kael, and Darion.The blue flames flickered violently, casting twisted, dancing shadows across the black stone walls.The air was heavy, oppressive, as though the fortress itself was holding its breath.At the far end, Adrian stood tall, his silhouette a dark, regal figure framed by the throne of shadows.His armor gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, black and crimson, runes crawling faintly across its surface like living veins.His sword rested casually in his hand, but Selene could feel the raw power radiating from him.Her heart ached at the sight. This is not who you are, Adrian…The Master’s laughter slithered through the chamber, cold and cruel.“The prodigal queen returns,” he hissed, his formless shadow stretching along the walls.“To save her king… or to destroy him.”“Enough!” Selene snapped, her voice ringing with defiance.Her hand trembled slightly as she raised her blade, but her eyes were steady.“This e

The dawn sky was a pale gray, streaked with faint hints of crimson, as if the world itself still bled from the night’s battle.The survivors stumbled through the mist, their clothes torn and their faces drawn tight with exhaustion.Selene led the way, her arm wrapped protectively around Adrian’s waist.He leaned on her heavily, his every step slow and shaky, but his jaw was set in quiet determination.Darion trudged behind them, silent and grim, his greatsword slung over his back.His eyes were hollow, dark with unspoken rage and grief.When the sprawl of tents came into view beyond the next ridge, a murmur went through the weary group.The campfires were still lit, sending thin tendrils of smoke into the morning air.It should have felt like safety.Instead, Selene felt a chill run down her spine.Something was wrong.As they crossed into the outer perimeter, guards rushed forward — soldiers who had been left behind to hold the camp.One of them gasped when he saw Adrian, then quickl

The night before the march was too still, too silent.The campfire smoke curled into the sky like ghostly fingers, and every soldier moved with a quiet tension, whispering instead of speaking aloud.Selene stood outside Adrian’s tent, staring at the darkened fabric as if sheer will could reveal what lay inside.Every instinct screamed at her to go to him, to pull him away from the darkness clawing at his soul.But she hesitated.Because if she looked into his eyes and saw only the Master staring back… she didn’t know if her heart could bear it.Darion appeared at her side, his massive frame a shadow among shadows.“You haven’t slept,” he rumbled.Selene didn’t turn to look at him.“Neither have you.”He grunted in reluctant agreement, folding his arms across his chest.“The men are ready to march at dawn. But they’re afraid, Selene. Afraid of the Master… and of Adrian.”Selene’s jaw tightened.“They should be afraid of the Master. Not Adrian.”Darion gave her a look, grim and unyieldi