POV: Arken
The moment Queen Alex touched the mark, the void shuddered.
Arken’s eyes snapped open in his throne of shadows as a violent tremor ripped through the dark realm. The torches lining the obsidian hall exploded into black fire, responding to his rage. The chains of ancient magic that draped his throne rattled like screaming metal.
Someone had touched the Bound Heir.
Someone powerful enough to bruise the spell that even gods feared.
Arken slowly rose to his feet, his cloak whispering like smoke across the floor. His voice was a low, vicious growl.
“Who dares.”
The walls of the void pulsed with his fury, the realm tremoring as if struggling to contain him. A distorted apparition flickered into existence beside him—his most loyal Shade.
“My king,” it hissed, bowing low. “We fe
