The mountains trembled.
Aradia and Kael stood at the center of ruin, their bond blazing gold, their breath ragged, their bodies scarred but unbroken. Around them, wolves whimpered, bloodied, too weak to rise.
But silence never lasted.
From the treeline, black smoke surged once more. Thousands of eyes opened in the dark, glowing red, endless and hungry. The ground cracked, rivers boiled, the air reeked of decay.
The Shadow had returned.
Ronan stood at its heart, his broken body now nothing but vessel. His copper hair burned black, his skin stretched with runes glowing void. He no longer spoke as man.
He spoke as Shadow.
"You cannot kill me. I am forever. Every flame feeds me. Every death strengthens me. And when you fall, witch, I will make you my Queen."
Kael's wolf howled, his massive frame scarred, his green eyes blazing like fire. "She is mine. Always."
Aradia's fire flickered, golden and steady. She trembled—but not from fear.
From fury.