ildly, their flames dancing in the eerie silence. The air was thick wit

r obsidian throne, her crimson nails tapping against the curved armrest. Her cl

kly green. Their massive, sinewy bodies were covered in jet-black fur, ea

s were bow

"Tell me, my pets... how is it that three of m

al whimper before daring to meet her ga

rfectly sculpted br

sed to be dormant! The girl grew up believing she was human, yet when we corn

inister smile. "Ah... so the daughter

e descended the stone steps of her throne. The

circling her cowering pets. "That means her mag

urling as a faint tendril of da

will n

is dangerous, Mistress. She doesn't even know how to

eans... when she learns to wield

ng with malevolence. "We cannot all

hall flared. Shadows slithered from the corners

anded. "And this tim

in a Hidden

ng at her hands. Faint traces of blue ene

art po

done i

have been easy prey. But something inside her had snapped-and the m

Trees had bent to shield her.

"I don't understand.

ng eyes. "Because you are Elaria's daughter. And the

I didn't even know I

for your protection. But now that they are awakening... the Dark Coven w

ed. "So wh

irm. "You train. And you become s

, determination set

nning. No

wanted a fight...

the Kingdom

e of the training grounds, his golde

onsumed by a s

e was a

are. She was his. And nothing-**not the elders, not the laws, not centurie

d his arms. "You realize

"Then let madn

s gaze dark a

ter what stood

oing to

nothing would ta