Selina's POV
The transition through Malakai’s portal was nothing like the violent, jarring tear of Cane’s shadow magic. It was silent, seamless, and terrifyingly cold.
When the darkness finally spat me out, I didn't hit the damp earth. My boots met polished, black marble with a soft click. The heavy, nauseating pressure of the void lifted, replaced instantly by the crisp, cool scent of crushed midnight blooms, cold ash, and old, leather-bound books.
I stumbled, my equilibrium struggling to catch up with the dimensional shift, but a pale, perfectly manicured hand caught my elbow, steadying me with absolute, chilling gentleness.
"Breathe, Selina," Malakai murmured, his voice a smooth, velvet hum in the quiet room. "You are safe here."
I violently jerked my arm out of his grasp, stumblin
