The world had become silent.
No warriors.
No palace.
No Mother.
No Eleanor.
Only the blood-red moon hanging above the empty kingdom.
And Derek.
He was still trapped in those black chains.
"Aria!"
His voice echoed across the darkness.
I ran toward him.
The Devourer stepped between us.
Its enormous body blocked my path.
"You cannot save him."
I stopped.
"Move."
It laughed.
"You still think this is about strength."
Its crimson eyes burned into mine.
"The throne has chosen."
"I haven't."
"That doesn't matter."
The creature raised one claw.
Three visions appeared in the air.
In the first, I saw Derek sitting upon the Shadow Throne.
His eyes were empty.
His wolf was gone.
The kingdom stood behind him, burning.
In the second, I saw the First Kingdom restored.
Thousand
