Over the next two days, Darian and the others roamed the palace freely, always using the guise of inspecting the place. He had told Noel to help him investigate the prince in a mask—William. For some reason, Darian had issues whenever he saw him.Darian got to the back end of the palace and saw other senior guards standing there. He had never been in this part of the palace before. He heard the sound of hands plucking the strings of a zither. Darian turned to see someone sitting under a shed. She was an extremely beautiful woman with piercing green eyes, wearing a simple white dress that flowed around her like a mist. As she played, the wind did its best to pick up her hair and float it. Darian felt a warm sensation in his chest and he just could not take his eyes off her.A fellow guard named Robert placed a hand on Darian’s shoulder. “Just like you, Luke, it is hard for anyone to take their eyes off her whenever she walks or she plays.”Darian smirked. “Who is she?”Robert replied,

Life is about cause and effect. And of course, the Palace of Azariel was thrown into turmoil. The Eagles had broken into the security systems of the palace, and security had to be beefed up. Jerry walked over to Darian and whispered, “I have seen where Her Holiness hid the second gem. I can give you the location.”Darian smiled to himself.That night, Darian fought the feeling to go and see his father. The last thing he wanted was for him to be traced as one who left the palace. Noel noticed and sighed as he whispered gently, “We are in motion, my man. We will soon be done.”***William knelt on the cold, icy floor before the throne of Her Holiness. Her throne was made of jagged, translucent ice, fitted directly into the middle of the wall, with staircases carved from packed snow that shimmered with an unnatural light.William was shaking all over.“You said you had it all under control. You said you knew that the next place for action was for the Golden Eagle to come here. You claime

The soldiers hurried to sweep people out of their homes. If they were seen not doing their duty, they could be killed. Darian, Noel, and Jerry were also working. They yelled instead of hitting people, and Darian had caught sight of some of his men. They were dressed so much like commoners that it took a while to recognize them.Soon, all the people were made to surround the place. They stood on the big field, waiting for what was to happen. Some of the common people shivered, many whispering to each other that they could die today because they were forced into the execution ground. They looked at the execution platform before them and waited.Soon, the sound of drums was heard. Everyone went on their knees immediately—both commoners and royals. It was Her Holiness’s procession. She was carried on a giant, lavish sedan, its sides draped in shimmering white silk and adorned with gold tassels that swayed with every step of the carriers.Then she stepped out of it and climbed the steps of

The sky over the capital was no longer blue. It was a mix of gold and cold white. Darian had summoned a solar beam, and as the Solar Beam hit Her Holiness, she shook. Her fingers went numb. The crooked staff—the tool she had used to rule for a thousand years—slipped from her giant hand.It fell through the air like a big mountain. It hit the ground near the execution field with a loud bang. The staff rolled away, then it resumed its normal size.But Her Holiness was not finished. She was still very angry. She looked at the staff. It was still too far away. If she were to go after it now, the golden eagle would have the chance to defeat her."You think a stick makes me a god? I have sucked up that thing for a thousand years!" she screamed. Her voice was as loud as a falling cliff. "I am the winter that never ends!"She slammed her giant hands into the dirt. Huge spikes of black ice shot out of the ground. They moved toward the sky like spears. Darian, in his giant Golden Eagle form, fl

Her Holiness lay on the cold stone, but she did not look defeated. Suddenly, she began to shake. A horrible, dry sound came from her throat. She was laughing. It was a loud, crazy sound that echoed off the broken walls of the palace."You think you have won, little boy?" she shrieked. Her eyes were wide and full of madness. She looked at Darian with pure hatred. "I curse you! I curse your blood and your kingdom! I have lived for a thousand years, and I will be the shadow that haunts your dreams forever! You will lose everything you love, just like Fortune did!"She stood up on shaky legs, her face twisted and ugly. She began to scream ancient, dark words, trying to call upon the last of her black magic. The air around her turned cold one last time, but Darian did not flinch.Darian looked at her with pity and strength. "Your time is over, Laurel. The world does not belong to your shadows anymore."Darian stepped back and took a deep breath. He did not even need to transform fully. He