Lyra instantly placed Eren behind her.
Seraphina?
The woman standing under the ruined throne smiled.
But it wasn’t the smile Kael remembered.
Seraphina Noir’s eyes were completely black.
“Now you remember me.
Kael moved forward.
“What has happened to you?”
Seraphina cocked her head.
“What makes you think something happened to me?
“Your eyes.
She giggled softly.
“My eyes have always been like this.”
“No,” said Lyra.
Seraphina’s eyes found hers.
“You know it ain’t true.”
Lyra hesitated.
There was something wrong about Seraphina’s voice.
Not unknown.
Just… layers.
As if there were another voice speaking under hers.
Kael stepped closer.
“You said the throne was gone.”
It was.
“So why are you here?”
Seraphina’s smile vanished.
“Because the throne wasn’t the enemy.”
Silence filled the room.
Kael’s brow furrowed.
“What?”
“The throne was a jail.”
Lyra’s heart missed a beat.
“For what?” “
Seraphina looked at the shattered remnants.
“For stuff much older.
Suddenly Kael’s hand was in Eren’s.
Dad.
Kael looked away.
“What is it?
Eren was watching Seraphina.
“She’s not alone.
Seraphina looked surprised.
Now for the first time she looked really afraid.
‘What did you say?’
Eren pointed at her.
“She has two voices within her.
Kael’s blood ran ice cold.
Seraphina took a step back.
“Don’t listen to him.
Eren shook his head.
“I hear them.
Lyra moved nearer.
“Seraphina who is inside you?
The blackness in Seraphina’s eyes fluttered.
Then her body twitched.
A second voice came from her mouth.
“Queen.
Lyra shivered.
Kael stepped in front of her immediately.
“Get away from her.
Seraphina’s hands shook.
“Kael…
‘
Her voice was back to normal.
“Please.
Kael halted.
It was her own voice.
The *real* Seraphina.
“I tried to tell you,” she whispered.
“What about?”
The throne.
”
“You said it was a prison.”
“It was.”
“But what was it confining then?”
Seraphina regarded Lyra.
“The First Luna.”
Lyra caught her breath.
“That’s impossible.”
“She was never quite dead.
The room seemed to close in on them.
Kael glanced at Lyra.
“What does it mean?”
Seraphina swallowed down.
“The First Luna didn’t give her power to you.”
She looked at Lyra.
“She picked you.”
Lyra felt a pulse in her chest.
She held herself close.
Kael had her in a flash.
“Lyra?
Silver sparkled in her eyes.
Then she heard a whispering.
Come back home.
Lyra took a sharp breath.
“Nope.
Kael drew her nearer.
“Not mind.
The voice once more.
My girl.
Lyra shook her head.
I am not your daughter.
Seraphina looked at her.
“You are.”
Kael glanced sharply at Seraphina.
“What did you say just now?
Seraphina stopped.
“Lyra’s mother had been more than the last Luna Queen.
Lyra’s face went white.
“Who was she?”
Seraphina glanced at the throne, smashed to pieces.
“She was the First Luna’s vessel.
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“Why didn’t you tell us then?
“Because if I told you too soon, the throne would have woken.”
“But it already has.
“Yes,”
Seraphina turned to Eren.
“Because of him.
Eren took a step back.
Kael immediately pulled him in.
“Don’t blame my son.
“Not at all.
Seraphina’s voice softened.
“He didn’t wake the throne up.
She gestured toward Eren.
“He woke up the truth.”
Suddenly the earth shook.
They all stopped.
A deep rumble went through the mountain.
Not a roar.
A heart beat.
SLAM
Lyra put a hand to her breast.
Another heartbeat replied.
BANG.
BANG.
Eren gazed at her.
“Ma’am.
Lyra looked at him.
‘What?
“Your heart is answering.”
Kael looked at Seraphina.
“What’s happening?”
Seraphina’s face went white.
“The jail is opening.”
Kael snapped out his claws.
“You said the throne was broken?
It was.
“Then what’s there?”
Seraphina eyed him.
“The thing the throne was created for.”
The ancient Alpha roared with laughter.
He was still standing at the broken entrance to the chamber.
Blood dripped down his face.
You got it now.”
Kael looked at him.
You knew?
The Old Alpha smiled.
“I knew well before your father did.
Kael got up and went to him.
“What lies below this mountain?”
The ancient Alpha smiled more.
“The place you’re from. Kael halted. My beginning?”
“Yes,” he answered.
The old Alpha stared at Eren.
“And your son’s.
Eren moved closer to Kael.
The old Alpha continued.
The throne was built because the First Alpha could not control the things that lived beneath it.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“So what is it?”
The ancient Alpha glanced at Lyra.
“Ask your Queen.”
Everyone was looking at Lyra.
She was a statue.
Her silver eyes sparkled.
“I don’t know.
The old Alpha laughed.
“You do.
Lyra gave a sudden scream.
Kael hurried to her.
She fell back against him.
Pictures tumbled in her mind.
A woman below the mountain.
A new-born child.
A crown of silver.
Kael, young.
And next to him…
Another baby.
Kael gazed at her.
“You see anything?
Lyra gasped.
“You.”
Kael hesitated.
“Me?”
“You were a baby.
Kael’s expression shifted.
But there was one more child.
Her heart stopped.
“Who?”
Lyra looked up into his eyes.
“I don’t know.
From the darkness beneath them a voice spoke.
“You were never the only heir.
Slowly Kael turned.
The ancient Alpha’s smile disappeared.
He recognized the voice.
“Not really.
Again the mountain opened.
Something enormous shifted beneath the floor.
Eren let go of Kael’s hand, suddenly.
“Daddy…”
Kael seized him.
“What?”
Eren looked into the dark.
His face turned white.
“I recognize that voice.
Kael’s blood ran cold.
“Where from?”
Eren whispered.
“Inside of me.”
Then the darkness under the broken throne opened.
And a pair of ancient silver eyes looked back at them.