Aria's POV
"Run!" Magnus screams. "Everyone run NOW!"
But no one moves. We're all frozen, staring at the shadowy figure rising from the crack in the earth. Its red eyes sweep across the crowd like searchlights, and everywhere they land, wolves collapse again—not sick this time, but terrified.
Pure, primal terror.
"What is that thing?" Thorne moves in front of me protectively, even though he just lost most of his Alpha power. Even though he's probably as scared as everyone else.
"Something that shouldn't exist," Magnus breathes. His face is white as bone. "Something the Moonshadows sealed away generations before the massacre. Before even my time."
The figure fully emerges from the crack—tall and impossibly thin, wrapped in shadows that move like living smoke. When it steps onto the grass, the ground beneath its feet turns to ice.
"Aria Moonshadow," it says, and my name in its voice sounds like a death sentence. "The last heir. The one who broke the protection curse. Finally."
"I didn't break it," I say, hating how my voice shakes. "I transformed it. There's a difference."
"Is there?" The figure tilts its head, curious. "The curse was a lock. You opened it. The door is now accessible. That's all I needed."
It reaches toward me again, and this time I see its hand clearly—bone white, fingers too long, nails like black talons.
"Don't touch her!" Kira jumps in front of me, weaponless and wolfless but brave as ever.
The figure flicks one finger.
Kira flies backward like she weighs nothing, crashing into the crowd. Thorne catches her before she hits the ground.
"Kira!" I start toward her, but the figure moves faster than anything should be able to move. Suddenly it's right in front of me, those red eyes boring into mine.
"Your grandmother never told you the whole truth, did she?" it whispers. "About what your bloodline really guards. About the bargain your ancestors made."
"What bargain?" My heart hammers against my ribs. "What are you talking about?"
"The Moonshadows weren't just magic-keepers," the figure says, circling me slowly. Everyone else seems frozen—like time stopped for them but not for us. "They were jailers. Guardians of a prison. And I..." It leans close, its breath cold against my ear. "I am what they imprisoned."
Horror floods through me. "You're lying."
"Am I?" It gestures at Magnus, frozen mid-step. "Ask the elder when time resumes. He knows. All the elders knew, once upon a time. But they chose to forget. Easier to believe the Moonshadows were just powerful healers than to remember they were the only thing standing between this world and something far worse."
"What are you?"
"I have many names. Shadow Walker. Soul Eater. The Forgotten King." Its smile is terrible. "But you can call me Malachar. I'm going to be part of your life for a very long time."
"No." I back away. "Whatever you want, the answer is no. I'm not opening any doors. I'm not freeing you. I'm not—"
"Too late." Malachar spreads its arms wide. "The door opened the moment you transformed the curse. The protection seal broke. I can touch this world again. Soon I can walk it freely. And there's nothing you can do to stop me."
"Then why are you still talking?" I demand. "If you're so powerful, why not just leave? Why bother with me at all?"
Malachar's smile widens. "Because I need something only you can provide."
"What?"
"A body."
The words hang in the air like poison.
"Right now, I'm barely corporeal," Malachar continues. "A shadow. A memory. A fragment of what I once was. But with a Moonshadow heir's body—with YOUR body—I could become flesh again. Walk in daylight. Touch. Feel. Live."
It reaches for me again.
This time I'm ready. I call up what's left of my power—the true Moonshadow magic that's mine alone—and blast it with everything I have.
Silver light explodes from my hands.
Malachar staggers back with a shriek. Where the light hits, its shadow-body burns and smokes.
"That's your answer," I snarl. "Stay away from me. Stay away from everyone I love. Or I'll find a way to destroy you properly."
"Bold words from a child who just gave up most of her power." But Malachar sounds wary now, wounded. "Still. You have spirit. I can respect that. I can wait."
It starts sinking back into the crack in the earth.
"Wait!" Magnus's voice—time has started again. He pushes through the crowd, stumbling toward the crack. "Malachar, you can't—we had a deal! Centuries ago, my ancestors—"
"Your ancestors are dust," Malachar interrupts. "And their deals died with them. This is a new age. The girl broke the seal. Now I'm free to make my own choices."
The crack begins closing.
"Aria Moonshadow," Malachar's voice echoes from the depths. "We'll meet again soon. And next time, I won't be asking permission."
Then it's gone.
The crack seals completely. The ground stops shaking. The red glow fades.
For a long moment, no one speaks. No one even breathes.
Then everyone starts talking at once—shouting questions, crying, panicking all over again.
"SILENCE!" Thorne's Alpha command cuts through the chaos. It's weaker than before, but it still works. "Magnus. Explain. Now. What was that thing? What deal did your ancestors make?"
Magnus looks like he aged a hundred years in the last five minutes. "It's... complicated."
"Uncomplicate it," I snap. "Because that thing—Malachar—just threatened to steal my body. I think I deserve the full story."
Magnus nods slowly. "You're right. You do. But not here. Not in front of everyone." He looks at the terrified pack. "This knowledge is dangerous. If it spreads, if others learn what was sealed away..."
"Others?" Kira limps toward us, cradling her arm. "What others? How many monsters did your ancestors lock away?"
"Just one," Magnus says. "But it's enough. More than enough."
He turns to me, his ancient eyes full of guilt and grief. "Aria, you need to come with me. Right now. There's someone you need to meet—someone who knew your grandmother before she hid the truth. Someone who can explain what you've really inherited."
"Who?" I ask.
"Your grandfather."
I freeze. "My grandfather is dead. He died before I was born."
"That's what Celia told you," Magnus says gently. "But like many things your grandmother said, it was a lie to protect you." He holds out his hand. "Come. He's been waiting twenty years to meet you. And after tonight, we're running out of time."
I look at Thorne. At Kira. At the pack still recovering from nearly dying.
Everything is falling apart again. The curse is broken but something worse has taken its place. My grandmother lied about everything. And apparently I have a grandfather who's been alive this whole time.
"I'll come with you," Thorne says immediately.
"Me too," Kira adds.
"No." I shake my head. "The pack needs you both. Thorne, they need an Alpha—even a weakened one. Kira, they need someone who'll tell them the truth about what happened." I squeeze both their hands. "I need to do this alone."
"Aria—" Thorne starts.
"Please." I meet his eyes. "Trust me. For once, just trust me."
He doesn't want to. I can see it in his face. But finally, he nods.
I turn to Magnus. "Let's go. Take me to my grandfather."
We start walking toward the forest. Behind us, I hear the pack murmuring, still scared, still confused.
We're almost to the tree line when Magnus stops suddenly.
"Before we go," he says quietly, "you should know something. Your grandfather didn't just know about Malachar. He's the one who helped seal it away thirty years ago. And the cost of that sealing..." He pauses. "The cost was his humanity."
"What does that mean?"
Magnus looks at me with eyes full of warning.
"It means your grandfather isn't entirely human anymore, Aria. The magic changed him. Twisted him. Some days he's lucid. Other days..." He swallows. "Other days he's more monster than man."
My blood runs cold. "And you're taking me to see him anyway?"
"Because on his lucid days, he's the only one who knows how to fight Malachar. How to send it back." Magnus starts walking again. "And if you're going to survive w
hat's coming, you need his knowledge. Even if getting it might kill you."