Nik had never seen her wield that kind of magic before.
Laran’s power. It had to be.
Her eyes were moss-green again—forest green, laced with gold. The colour that had haunted his dreams, uninvited, night after night. Now they were glassy, rimmed with tears. Shattered.
Bracing a hand on the rough stone behind him, Nik forced himself upright, every breath a searing pain. He had to reach her. Somehow, she’d broken free of Laran’s Tears, yet she looked utterly lost, as if dragged from a nightmare she couldn’t wake from.
Did she even remember? Did she know what she’d done since the Emperor had drowned her in that cursed pool?
Alena, slumped against the stone, extended a trembling hand. “Kat…”
Katell flinched. Her breath came in frantic bursts, eyes darting from Alena to Leukos’ bloodied form, then to Nik.
Horror washed over her face, slow and consuming.
She recoiled, stumbling back as if the sight of them scalded her. Her hands flew to her head, clutching her temples. “No,” she whispered. “No, no, no…”
Crimson light burst from her again, violently lashing the rain-slick air. It crackled and snapped, alive with panic.
Magic, spiralling out of control, defying even the ancient circle.
There could be no doubt—she was a demigoddess.
Nik’s pulse hammered. “Kat.”
He pushed forward, but pain tore through his ribs, stalling him with a grunt.
Twelve be damned!
Rain ran cold down his face. Katell’s crimson magic reflected off the wet stone like blood. He clutched his side and forced another step.
Her head snapped up. “Don’t! Stay away.”
Katell’s voice cracked with fear. She retreated, eyes wild, desperate for escape.
Like an animal cornered.
“Stay away!” she cried again, the magic around her pulsing in warning.
Alena heaved herself upright, despair etched across her battered face. “Kat, wait!”
But Katell didn’t stop. She stumbled out of the circle, heading straight towards the cliff’s edge and raging river below. Rain swallowed her silhouette, veiling her in mist until she was little more than a ghost moving through the storm.
“Kat!” But Nik’s shout was useless against the wind.
She didn’t turn.
He lurched forward. He couldn’t let her go—not like this. Not with that hollow expression, as if her soul had shattered and she didn’t know how to hold the pieces together. Pain flared through his body, but he no longer felt it. All that mattered was her, slipping further from reach with every heartbeat.
Behind him, Alena struggled to rise, and Leukos wasn’t moving. Nik couldn’t abandon them in that state. They needed him. He needed to?—
“Go.”
Nik’s head snapped to Leukos. The word was barely more than breath. Yet his prince was watching him, gaze unwavering. A slight twitch of his lips was the only sign of movement. “Go,” he whispered again.
Alena looked between them before her focus settled on Nik. Her hair clung to her skin, and beneath the blood, her face was drawn and pale. “Please…” she rasped. “Go after her.”
“But—”
