The final silver chain shattered.
For one terrible second, everything became silent.
Then the abyss exploded.
A wave of darkness surged through the Hall of Memories, throwing everyone backward.
I held onto Seraphine as the force swept past us.
"Aria!"
Cassian reached for me.
I grabbed his hand just before the darkness separated us.
The palace shook violently.
Stone crashed from the ceiling.
The ancient creature began rising from the abyss.
Its enormous horns emerged first.
Then its shoulders.
Then the full shape of a towering figure wrapped in black armor.
It wasn't a beast.
It was a king.
An ancient crown rested upon his head, and crimson light burned beneath his armor.
The First King stared at him.
"The Forgotten King..."
The creature smiled.
"Finally."
He stepped on
