The dark energy crackled around Darian's hands like living lightning. His eyes glowed with a sickly purple light. He had already absorbed some of Zephyr's power. Kael could feel it in the air. Heavy. Oppressive. Wrong.
Kael stood between Darian and Zephyr. His body was tired. His muscles ached. He had been fighting for so long. But he could not stop. He would not stop. Zephyr was counting on him. Mira was counting on him. Seraphine was counting on him. Everyone who believed in him was counting on him.
"You cannot win," Darian said. His voice echoed through the chamber. "You are nothing. A boy who bonded with a defect. A failure who was cast out by his own family. You have no power. No status. No future. You are worthless."
Kael felt the words hit him like physical blows. They were the s
