The Moon Gate shattered.
Thousands of fragments of black stone flew through the chamber.
Kael grabbed Aria and pulled her behind him.
Damon drew his sword.
Elena stepped backward.
Even Lucian looked terrified.
Then the first creature came through.
It crawled on four enormous legs, its body covered in black armor and its eyes glowing red.
Behind it came another.
Then another.
Within seconds, the chamber was filled with them.
Aria stared.
“What are those?”
Lucian’s voice was low.
“Shadow beasts.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“How many?”
Lucian looked toward the broken gate.
“Too many.”
A deep growl filled the chamber.
The creatures turned toward Aria.
Every single one of them lowered its head.
Aria froze.
“They’re…”
Kael looked at her.
“They’re bowing.”
The largest creature stepped forward.
It lowered its enormous head until its forehead touched the ground.
The others followed.
Hundreds of creatures bowed before Aria.
Silence filled the chamber.
Damon stared in disbelief.
“What does that mean?”
Lucian answered.
“It means the Queen has been recognized.”
Aria looked at him.
“I didn’t tell them to do that.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Why?”
Lucian’s eyes remained fixed on her.
“Because they remember you.”
Aria felt a chill.
“I’ve never seen them before.”
“They have.”
He pointed toward her.
“Before you were Aria.”
Her silver eyes widened.
“You mean…”
“You were their Queen.”
Kael immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t let him fill your head with lies.”
Lucian glared at him.
“You’ve lied to her for eighteen years.”
Kael’s sword flashed.
“I protected her.”
“And now she will know what you truly are.”
Kael lunged.
Lucian met him.
Their swords collided.
The force shook the chamber.
Aria watched helplessly.
Her father and the Lycan King fought like enemies who had been waiting years for this moment.
Kael swung.
Lucian blocked.
Lucian attacked.
Kael dodged.
Neither gained an advantage.
Then a shadow beast charged.
Damon stepped in front of Aria.
“Stay back!”
The creature lunged.
Damon shifted.
His wolf form appeared instantly.
He collided with the beast.
They rolled across the floor.
Aria raised her hand.
Silver light gathered.
“Stop!”
The creature froze.
Damon froze too.
Aria stared.
She hadn’t spoken to the creature.
Yet it obeyed.
She lowered her hand.
The beast lowered its head.
Damon slowly shifted back.
“What did you just do?”
“I don’t know.”
Kael looked toward her.
“Try again.”
Aria turned toward another creature.
“Stay.”
It stopped.
“Come.”
The creature approached.
“Sit.”
It lowered itself to the ground.
Aria stared.
She could command them.
Not control them.
Something deeper.
They wanted to obey.
Lyra whispered inside her mind.
Because they remember our voice.
Aria swallowed.
“What were we?”
Their Queen.
Aria looked toward the army.
Thousands of creatures waited.
Thousands of lives were connected to her.
The responsibility was overwhelming.
Then a scream echoed from above.
The Shadow Moon Pack.
Aria looked toward the entrance.
“They’re attacking the surface.”
Kael turned.
“We have to go.”
Lucian stopped fighting.
“Wait.”
Kael glared at him.
“What?”
“The army isn’t attacking the pack.”
Aria frowned.
“Then what are they doing?”
Lucian looked toward the broken gate.
“They’re escaping.”
“Escaping from what?”
Lucian’s face became grim.
“Something worse.”
The ground shook.
A massive roar came from the gate.
Every shadow beast suddenly became restless.
The largest one growled.
“He’s coming.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?”
Lucian looked at Aria.
“The Shadow King.”
Silence.
Aria’s heart pounded.
“Azrael?”
“No.”
Lucian shook his head.
“Azrael was only his servant.”
Kael’s face hardened.
“Impossible.”
Lucian laughed bitterly.
“You thought the creature you fought was the master?”
Kael said nothing.
Lucian looked toward the darkness.
“Azrael served him.”
“Who?”
Lucian whispered:
“The First Shadow.”
A cold wind swept through the chamber.
Aria felt Lyra tremble.
No.
Aria closed her eyes.
“Lyra?”
We have to leave.
“Why?”
Because he remembers us.
Aria opened her eyes.
“What does that mean?”
He is the one who killed us.
Her heart stopped.
“Us?”
In our first life.
Aria looked toward the gate.
A figure appeared in the darkness.
Tall.
Thin.
Wrapped in black robes.
His face was hidden.
But his eyes were silver.
The same silver as hers.
Aria’s breath caught.
The figure stepped forward.
“Queen.”
His voice was almost gentle.
Aria couldn’t move.
Kael stepped in front of her.
The figure laughed.
“Still protecting her?”
Kael raised his sword.
“Stay away.”
The figure tilted his head.
“You never learn.”
Kael attacked.
The figure lifted one hand.
Kael was thrown backward.
He crashed into the wall.
“Kael!”
Aria ran toward him.
The figure watched.
“How touching.”
Damon stood between them.
“You won’t touch her.”
The figure looked at him.
“Who are you?”
Damon raised his sword.
“The Alpha of Shadow Moon.”
The figure smiled.
“Ah.”
His eyes moved to Aria.
“The rejected mate.”
Damon’s expression changed.
The figure laughed.
“Interesting.”
Aria stepped forward.
“Who are you?”
The figure lowered his hood.
His face was young.
Far too young.
He looked no older than thirty.
But his eyes were ancient.
“My name is Malakai.”
Aria froze.
The name struck something inside her.
A memory.
A throne.
A war.
A man kneeling before her.
Her hand resting on his head.
She gasped.
“You.”
Malakai smiled.
“You remember.”
Aria shook her head.
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
“I’ve never seen you.”
“You have.”
He stepped closer.
“In your first life.”
Aria’s heart pounded.
“What were you?”
Malakai smiled.
“Your first guardian.”
Kael suddenly stood.
“Don’t believe him.”
Malakai looked at him.
“You’ve been telling her that for centuries.”
Aria stared.
“Centuries?”
Kael said nothing.
Malakai laughed.
“You truly haven’t told her.”
“Tell me what?”
Malakai looked directly at Aria.
“Your first life didn’t end when you died.”
Aria’s breathing stopped.
“You were reborn.”
“But every time you returned, your memories were erased.”
“Why?”
“Because the Shadow King feared you.”
Aria looked at him.
“Are you the Shadow King?”
Malakai smiled.
“No.”
He looked toward the gate.
“I’m the one who killed him.”
Aria froze.
“Then who is behind the gate?”
Malakai’s smile disappeared.
“Your first enemy.”
A deep voice echoed from the darkness.
“Malakai.”
Malakai turned.
His expression changed.
Fear.
“Run.”
Aria stared at him.
“What?”
“RUN!”
The gate exploded.
A massive wave of darkness swept through the chamber.
Malakai disappeared.
Kael grabbed Aria.
Damon grabbed Elena.
Lucian shouted:
“Get out!”
Everyone ran.
The mountain began collapsing.
Stone fell from the ceiling.
The shadow beasts fled.
Aria stumbled.
Kael caught her.
“Keep moving.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
Another explosion shook the mountain.
Kael lifted Aria into his arms.
She stared at him.
“You don’t have to carry me.”
“I know.”
“Then put me down.”
“No.”
“Kael.”
“I’m not losing you.”
The words escaped before he could stop them.
Aria stared at him.
Kael looked away.
Damon saw everything.
His expression darkened.
They reached the surface.
The Shadow Moon Pack was in chaos.
Wolves ran through the streets.
Buildings burned.
The Blood Moon warriors had disappeared.
Aria looked around.
“My people.”
Kael placed her down.
“We’ll save them.”
“You said you weren’t sure.”
“I’m sure now.”
“Why?”
Kael looked at her.
“Because they aren’t fighting for themselves anymore.”
He pointed toward the sky.
A massive black cloud had formed above the kingdom.
Lightning flashed inside it.
The clouds twisted into the shape of a giant eye.
Aria’s silver mark suddenly reappeared.
Lyra growled.
He’s here.
Aria looked upward.
“Who?”
The eye opened.
A voice echoed across the entire kingdom.
“Queen.”
Every wolf in the valley fell to the ground.
Kael’s expression became grim.
Damon looked terrified.
Lucian dropped to one knee.
Even Elena bowed her head.
Aria stared at them.
“Why is everyone kneeling?”
No one answered.
The voice came again.
“Come home.”
Aria’s body trembled.
“Where?”
The sky split open.
A black staircase descended from the clouds.
At the top stood a throne.
And sitting on it was a man with silver eyes.
Aria stared.
She knew that face.
Not from this life.
From her memories.
He had been there when she wore the crown.
He had stood beside her.
He had held her hand.
And he had betrayed her.
Aria whispered:
“Malakai…”
But Malakai was standing beside the mountain.
He looked up at the throne.
His face was filled with terror.
“No.”
Aria turned toward him.
“You said you killed the Shadow King.”
Malakai shook his head.
“I killed his body.”
“Then who is that?”
Malakai looked at Aria.
His voice trembled.
“His soul.”
The man on the throne smiled.
“Hello, my Queen.”
Aria’s wolf went silent.
Then the man stood.
“Do you remember me?”
A vision exploded inside Aria’s mind.
A crown.
A wedding.
A kiss.
A sword.
Blood.
Her own scream.
And a final memory.
The man on the throne standing over her body.
He had killed her.
Aria opened her eyes.
Tears streamed down her face.
“I remember.”
Kael looked at her.
“What?”
Aria stared at the Shadow King.
Her voice shook.
“You killed me.”
The Shadow King smiled.
“Yes.”
He raised one hand.
“And this time…”
Darkness spread across the sky.
“…I won’t let you escape.”