The room hummed with tension, shadows curling in the corners and a faint shimmer of energy pulsing at the edges. Every surface seemed alive, reacting to the Veil’s hunger, probing the space with intent and focus. At the center, her mark glowed faintly, threads of power coiling like living tendrils, responding to every ripple of energy around it. Kael’s dark presence lingered at her side, steady and deliberate, while Riven’s heat radiated close enough to make her senses taut and alive.
She flexed her fingers experimentally, sending a ripple outward through her mark. The threads extended, curling into the faint shimmer at the edges of the room, and the Veil recoiled slightly, testing her in response. A thrill of control surged through her chest. Kael’s shadowed hand pressed against her back
