The air around me crackled with tension, my heart racing in my chest as I stood on the precipice of a future I had never wanted but now couldn’t escape. The prophecy had always been a distant threat, something I’d heard about in whispers, but it was no longer distant. It was here, in front of me, tangled in my blood and bones.
I felt Ryker beside me, his presence as constant as the air I breathed, even though I wasn’t sure if I should trust it. He’d been by my side, our bond strengthening as we fought against enemies both external and internal. But this—this was different. The Lunar Deity had come to me, her ethereal form shimmering in the moonlight. She had called me the Queen, the one who would unite two worlds, the one who would bring balance.
I couldn’t comprehend the weight of her w
