Pain rippled through Selene’s body.
She let out a pained gasp and sank to her knees, clutching the pendant at her throat. Heat coursed through her veins, as if another heart had been sewn into her chest.
“Selene!”
The Oracle caught her before she hit the floor. Lucien was at their sides in an instant, his sword already in his hand as he took in the tunnel around them.
“What happened?”
Selene struggled to form an answer, but the world around her cracked and warped away.
--- Somewhere in the palace ---
Smoke curled from the edges of the room, burning Selene’s lungs. Stains of dark liquid splattered the marble floor. At the centre of it all stood Kael.
His tunic was torn, and one sleeve was soaked in bright red liquid. His breaths came in jagged hitches, but still he stood his ground
