The stars were fading into dawn as Evelyn stood on the cliffs above the Vale. Her hands trembled, not from fear—but fury, grief, and confusion all tangled together like a storm in her chest.
Lucien watched her from a distance, silent. He didn't speak. He knew this was her moment. Her pain.
Below, the land whispered of war. Smoke rose from the east. Seraphine had begun to move.
"She's going to burn everything," Evelyn said at last. "I saw it in her eyes."
Lucien walked closer. "Then we stop her."
"But at what cost?" Evelyn turned to him, her eyes wide, vulnerable. "She has my father. She knows how to twist him. She's playing me, Lucien."
Lucien stepped in, gently holding her face in his hands. "Then let her play. Let her think she's winning. But we don't give her our fear."
Evelyn's eyes brimmed with tears. "What if I lose you?"
He smiled softly. "You won't. I'd bleed a thousand lifetimes before I let her touch you."
She leaned into him, drawing strength from his warmth. For a moment, the world faded.
But peace never lasted long.
A sudden cry echoed from the forest.
Then a scream.
Then fire.
Evelyn and Lucien raced back toward the sanctuary—but what they found froze them both.
The temple was ablaze. Its silver trees turned black, burning with unnatural flames. Keeper Ayra lay on the ground, motionless, blood staining the grass.
And in the center of it all—
A trap.
Lucien moved forward—only for a shadow to strike him down with a single blow.
Evelyn screamed. "Lucien!"
From the smoke, Alden appeared—her father, face stone-cold.
"I warned you," he said softly. "Love is a chain. And now it breaks you."
Lucien tried to rise, but Alden's boot pressed down on his chest.
"Let him go!" Evelyn shouted, flames starting to flicker in her palms.
"Or what?" Alden asked. "You'll burn your last connection to humanity?"
Behind him, Seraphine stepped out of the flames, her gown of blood shimmering.
"Oh, my darling girl," she cooed. "You look so much like your mother... except stronger. Brighter."
"I'm nothing like you," Evelyn spat.
"Oh, but you are." Seraphine smiled, circling her. "Tell me... do you feel that ache in your chest? That fury building inside your bones? That's power. Real, terrifying power. Let it out, Evelyn. Burn us all."
Lucien groaned in pain. Blood ran from his side.
Evelyn's breath caught.
Seraphine raised her hand. A dagger of crimson fire appeared in her palm—hovering over Lucien's heart.
"Here's the deal, my little flame," she whispered. "You can stop me. Right now. Unleash everything. Let your power rise. But if you do... he dies. That fire inside you? Once it awakens, it consumes. And you'll destroy the only thing you love."
Evelyn froze. Her hands burned white-hot. Her soul begged to fight. But her heart... it cracked.
She looked at Lucien. Blood on his lips. But his eyes—still strong. Still there.
"No," she whispered. "There must be another way."
"Choose!" Seraphine shouted, dagger poised to strike.
Lucien met Evelyn's eyes. "Don't hold back... not for me."
Tears streamed down her face.
"I can't lose you."
"And I can't let you break."
She screamed—and the world shattered.
Light exploded from her body, silver and white, raw and ancient. The earth cracked beneath her. Trees bent. Fire died.
A blast of force hurled Seraphine and Alden back, the dagger vanishing.
Evelyn's feet hovered above the ground, her eyes glowing with celestial fire.
Seraphine rose from the ash, laughing madly. "Yes... YES! That's what I wanted!"
Lucien watched, dazed. "Evelyn..."
She turned to him—her face both beautiful and terrifying.
And then—she collapsed.
When Evelyn awoke, everything was still.
Lucien knelt beside her, his hand wrapped around hers.
"Hey," he whispered, voice hoarse. "You're back."
She tried to sit, but pain flared through her side. "What... happened?"
"You exploded," he smiled weakly. "In a good way. You saved me. You saved everyone."
She looked around. The temple was gone. The forest scorched. But Seraphine and Alden—gone.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," she whispered.
He leaned closer. "You didn't. You chose love... and still found your power."
She broke then—tears streaming down her cheeks. "I was so afraid... afraid I'd lose you. Or myself."
Lucien cupped her face, wiping away a tear. "You didn't lose anything. You just became who you're meant to be."
Their lips met again—not like the other times. This kiss was broken and healing, fierce and soft. A silent vow in the middle of a battlefield.
But in the distance, smoke still rose.
The war had only begun.