Kara’s vision blurred as she pushed herself off the cold stone wall, her breath coming in sharp gasps. The air around her still pulsed with residual dark magic, thick and suffocating. Luke was gone, but the echo of his presence remained—a warning, a promise.
The Shadow King is watching.
A shiver crawled down her spine. Luke’s power had been unnatural. Darker, twisted.
This wasn’t the man she had once known. This was something else.
She turned toward the door, her mind racing. She needed to tell Damien—
The door slammed open before she could move.
Damien stood in the doorway, his crimson eyes glowing with fury, his sword already drawn.
“Kara.” His voice was a snarl, filled with barely restrained rage.
She barely had time to respond before he crossed the room in seconds, gripping her
