Shadows Revealed
Book Four
Chapter 1
Kaia
I’m ready to die.
For Finn, who loved me before I loved myself. Who made me laugh when the world was falling apart. Who’s still holding my wrist like he can anchor me to this life through sheer stubbornness.
For Torric, who burns so hot and loves so fierce. Who would set the world on fire if it meant keeping me safe.
For Aspen, who steadies me with a touch. Who sees me — really sees me — and stays anyway.
For Malrik, who leads when no one asks him to. Who carries weight he never signed up for. Who calls me Nightshade like it’s a prayer.
For Darian, who clawed his way back from corruption. Who chose us. Who choseme.
For Kieran, who’s waited centuries. Who’s made mistakes he can’t take back. Who loves me in a language older than words.
For Bob and Mouse and Walter and Patricia. For Finnick and Carl and Steve and Linda. For all the Eds who followed without question.
None of them deserve to die for something that started centuries before I was born.
None of them need to die for me.
But they will.
I see it in the way they’re positioned — six men ready to form a wall between me and a god. I feel it through the bonds — six hearts ready to stop beating if it means mine keeps going.
That’s the thought crystallizing in my chest as I face the God of Chaos, wings spread, power still crackling through my veins.
We won’t survive this.
But we’ll go down together.
The God watches me with those ancient, endless eyes. Reality bends around him like heat shimmer off summer stone. The plateau holds its breath.
And then—
“Turn around.”
His voice is quiet. Not the thunder I expected. Not rage or condemnation or divine judgment.
Just… instruction.
I don’t move. Can’t. Every muscle locked, every instinct screaming that if I take my eyes off him for one second—
“Kaia.”
My name in his mouth feels like being seen by the universe itself.
“Turn around.”
Finn’s fingers tighten on my wrist. I feel his chaos magic trembling against my skin — not a warning. An encouragement.
Trust this.
