The voice shook the palace to its foundations.
The darkness beneath the Hall of Memories churned like a living ocean.
Those crimson eyes remained fixed on me.
Not on Cassian.
Not on Darius.
On me.
Every instinct screamed at me to run.
But I couldn't move.
The Blood Crown on my head began to pulse, each heartbeat matching the ancient creature's voice.
Boom.
The floor trembled.
Boom.
The palace walls cracked.
Boom.
A wave of darkness rolled through Noctis.
Outside, every dragon cried out at once.
The First King slowly drew the ancient sword from his side.
"No one," he commanded, "look into its eyes."
The royal guards immediately lowered their heads.
Even Kael obeyed.
Only Darius continued staring into the abyss.
His smile grew wider.
"I've waited six hundred years for t
