Seraphina's POV
The moment I saw the door swing open on its own, I knew we were dealing with something worse than I'd initially thought. The darkness beyond wasn't just absence of light—it was presence. A presence that shouldn't be here, an abomination slipping through cracks in reality that were being systematically pried open.
I moved before conscious thought, my hands spinning intricate patterns in the air.
"Chronos halta," I whispered, power surging through my fingertips.
The world around us froze. Jax's face locked mid-grimace, muscles tensed for action. Orion's hand suspended halfway to the weapon concealed at his back. Liam caught with his mouth open, likely about to curse. Silas blinking, uncomprehending of the danger we faced.
Time stopped for them, but not for me. Never for me.
I turned toward the open door, facing the darkness alone. "Come out, Caeriel. I know you're there."
