Sacrifice of the Heart

ed in a violent

A deafening roar of energy shattered the corridor, shaking the very foundations of the palace. Heat l

ment, all she felt

-imp

e floor. Her head rang, pain radiating through her limbs. She gasped fo

agic. Whoever had unleashed that power wasn't just some c

la

inging in her ears. A familiar warmth en

sp

rounding. He knelt beside her, his storm-gray eyes scanning her bod

mured, fingers brushi

temple, warm blood trailing down her skin. But she pushed

she started, t

loaked ma

en there. Only a black scorch m

This wasn't a simple at

st. "They wanted us separated. That blast was meant t

e way her legs trembled beneath her. "We n

ore throug

d turned

eady moving. "

y r

d. The scent of smoke and burning silkfilled the air as they

archway, the sight before

r in a desperate attempt to flee. Guards clashed with masked figures-not ordinary m

e was und

ic clawing at her chest. Where w

"This isn't just an assassin

tched her home fall to fire and

had finally rev

ace was

nightmare she couldn't wake from. Flames climbed the silk-draped walls, chandeli

t ballroom was

k down guards with vicious precision. Some wielded magic, their hands crackling with eerie blue energy

haos, searching for her father, for anyo

she s

lden cloak stained with blood. His sword was drawn, gleaming under the fl

e was still fighting

ot fo

hadows behind hi

orward, but the moment she took a step-a wall of da

la

re she could slam into the magical barrier. The air between them shimm

't want her

d, struggling against Vesper's grip. "

storm-gray eyes locking onto the

didn't

voice was cold,

ould argue,

and fallen nobles. He tore through attackers with brutal efficiency-a dagger to

asn't fa

ad already rea

e watched a silver dagger plu

o, no

second, the

shed agai

in's dagger with deadly precision. Sparks flew as they fought,

ong, but he was ag

assassin

aked figure sidestepped, fe

ger san

eam shatter

darkening with blood. He gasped, gr

He yanked the dagger free-ra

th

r was

ht, he crashed into the assassin, ta

ssassin snarled, twisting to st

drove his dagger straight t

A final, str

assassin

d for a single,

King co

ra

him, hands trembling as she pressed against th

d, her vision blurr

r cheek, weak but fami

oice strained. "You must list

pounded. "Who?

he could answer, a second e

ling ca

th

ng faded

ripped throu

nto the cold marble, pain detonating through her ribs as dust and debris rained fr

her, the King

o

o

hands and knees. Her limbs shook, her ears rang, but she p

er voice barely audible

merged fro

, moving with slow, deliberate steps. But as the

seemed to swallow the firelight around him. A mask concealed his face, leavi

lara saw him, he

he knew w

raith

phantom of the underworld. The true ruler of the hi

ing over her fat

is blade drawn, fury flashing in

didn't move. H

rong. Ancient. Forbidden. As if the very magic bin

ther. The King barely clung to consc

King murmured, voice deep and smoot

of his

appeared i

but Vesper grabbed h

thrashing in his grip. "He'll

grip was iron. "If you go t

e. She couldn't just

de the dying King, tilting

it should," he murmured.

heartbea

N

h of s

er plung

ything s