Seraphine's magic descended.
And someone stepped between us.
Aldric.
The dark magic meant for me to hit him instead.
Punched through his chest.
"BROTHER!" Kael's scream echoed everywhere.
Aldric collapsed.
But his hand shot out, grabbing Seraphine's wrist.
"You... forgot something," he gasped, blood bubbling from his lips.
"What?"
"Royal blood... breaks dark magic."
His royal power poured from him—pure, clean purification.
It spread into Seraphine.
It burned.
She screamed.
"Die," Aldric whispered.
"Die and free them all."
Then he detonated his life force.
Royal blood and dark magic exploded.
Gold and purple light expanded fifty feet before collapsing.
When it cleared, both were gone.
Silence fell.
Then Kael's anguished howl. "
ALDRIC!"
The battle ended after t
