Aria's POV
The final night arrived exactly as the prophecy promised — the sky bleeding slowly from dusk into full, crimson dark, the moon itself swelling larger than I'd ever seen it, hanging low and heavy over the ruins of the old Moon Temple.
We'd gathered there by unanimous, unspoken agreement — the one place ancient enough to remember what the three of us were about to attempt.
Sophia stood at the center of the old sanctuary floor, the white-gold raven pendant glowing faintly against her collarbone, looking simultaneously terrified and more certain than I'd ever seen her.
"Marcus believes the ritual requires all three of us," she said, voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "Light, Shadow, Guardian. Standing together, willingly, the way we were always meant to."
Riven stood
