The storm no longer felt like weather.
It felt like war.
The sky above the Blackclaw estate churned like a wounded beast, lightning ripping through the clouds again and again. Thunder crashed so violently that the ground trembled beneath Selara's feet.
Rain poured across the battlements in silver sheets, turning stone walkways into rivers.
But Selara barely noticed.
Her attention was fixed on the man standing across the ruined courtyard.
Kaelen.
He stood calmly in the center of the chaos, dark energy swirling around him like living smoke. The storm bent toward him, responding to his will as if he were its master.
Lightning flashed behind him, outlining his tall figure in stark white light.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause.
Selara tightened her grip on her dagger.
Nightborne power rippled through her veins like liquid fire, pulsing in rhythm with the storm above.
Beside her, Draven slowly rolled his shoulders, loosening his grip on his sword.
His voice was quiet.
"Something's wrong."
Selara didn't take her eyes off Kaelen.
"What do you mean?"
Draven's storm-grey eyes narrowed.
"He's not attacking."
Selara frowned.
Now that he mentioned it…
Kaelen had been watching them for several seconds.
Waiting.
That was worse.
A slow smile spread across Kaelen's face.
"You're learning," he said, his voice carrying effortlessly through the wind and rain.
Selara stepped forward.
"You talk too much for someone who keeps losing."
Kaelen chuckled softly.
"Losing?"
He gestured lazily toward the battlefield.
The shattered courtyard.
The broken tower.
The deep cracks in the estate walls.
"You call this losing?"
Selara felt anger rise in her chest.
"This isn't over."
Kaelen's silver eyes gleamed.
"No."
His voice dropped lower.
"It's only beginning."
The storm above suddenly twisted harder.
The vortex Kaelen had summoned earlier pulsed violently again, sending a wave of dark lightning across the sky.
Selara felt the Nightborne power inside her react immediately.
Silver energy crackled along her skin.
Draven noticed.
His gaze flicked toward her glowing hands.
"It's happening again."
Selara clenched her fists.
"I know."
The power inside her felt restless.
Unstable.
It surged every time Kaelen's magic flared.
As if it recognized him.
Or feared him.
Kaelen watched the exchange with obvious interest.
"Ah," he murmured.
"The blood awakens."
Selara's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
Kaelen tilted his head.
"You truly don't know?"
The wind howled across the courtyard.
Selara felt a cold knot form in her stomach.
"What are you talking about?"
Kaelen slowly began walking toward them.
Each step echoed across the cracked stone.
"You think this storm is about destroying the Blackclaw estate."
He shook his head.
"You're wrong."
Draven shifted his stance.
"Then what is it about?"
Kaelen stopped twenty feet away.
His smile returned.
"It's about you."
Selara felt the air leave her lungs.
"Me?"
Kaelen spread his arms slightly.
"You are the last true heir of the Nightborne bloodline."
Lightning flashed.
His eyes glowed silver.
"Do you have any idea how rare that is?"
Selara didn't answer.
Because she already suspected the truth.
Kaelen's voice softened.
"Your power was never meant to stay hidden."
Draven stepped forward slightly.
"You're not getting anywhere near her."
Kaelen barely glanced at him.
"You misunderstand, Alpha."
His attention returned to Selara.
"I'm not here to kill her."
Selara's grip tightened around her dagger.
"Then why are you here?"
Kaelen's smile widened.
"To awaken you."
The ground trembled.
Suddenly the vortex above them exploded with energy again.
Dark lightning shot downward, striking the far side of the courtyard.
A massive crack split across the stone floor.
Selara staggered slightly as the shockwave rippled through the estate.
"What are you doing?!" she shouted.
Kaelen lifted his hand.
The vortex spun faster.
"I told you."
His voice echoed like thunder.
"I'm awakening the Nightborne."
Selara felt the power inside her erupt violently.
Silver energy burst outward from her body.
Draven grabbed her shoulders immediately.
"Selara!"
Her breathing became ragged.
"I… can't stop it…"
The power inside her was rising too fast.
Like a dam breaking.
Kaelen watched calmly.
"Yes…"
His eyes gleamed.
"That's it."
Draven glared at him.
"What did you do to her?"
Kaelen shrugged.
"I removed the restraints."
Lightning crashed again.
Selara dropped to one knee.
Pain surged through her veins.
Her body felt like it was burning from the inside.
Draven knelt beside her.
"Stay with me."
Selara gritted her teeth.
"I'm trying."
The power inside her kept growing.
Too fast.
Too wild.
Kaelen's voice drifted across the battlefield.
"Do you know why the Nightborne were feared?"
Selara lifted her head slowly.
Silver light was beginning to glow in her eyes.
Kaelen answered his own question.
"Because they could command storms."
The vortex above them roared.
Lightning spiraled downward again.
But this time
It didn't strike the ground.
It struck Selara.
Draven shouted in shock.
But the lightning didn't burn her.
Instead it wrapped around her body like living energy.
Selara gasped.
Her entire body lit up with silver light.
The power stabilized instantly.
Draven stared at her in disbelief.
Selara slowly rose to her feet.
The storm swirled around her now.
Responding.
Listening.
She looked down at her hands.
Silver lightning danced across her fingertips.
"What… did you do to me?"
Kaelen's smile widened.
"I set you free."
Draven stepped in front of her protectively.
"You're insane."
Kaelen shrugged.
"Perhaps."
His gaze returned to Selara.
"But look at her."
Selara could feel it.
The storm above wasn't just Kaelen's anymore.
Part of it answered to her.
She lifted her hand slowly.
The clouds shifted.
Lightning flashed.
Draven looked back at her.
"You're controlling it."
Selara swallowed.
"I think…"
Another bolt of lightning struck nearby.
"…it's controlling me too."
Kaelen laughed softly.
"Balance takes practice."
Selara's anger surged.
"You used me."
Kaelen's expression hardened slightly.
"No."
His voice became cold.
"I revealed you."
The storm intensified again.
Rain whipped sideways across the battlefield.
Selara lifted her dagger.
The blade burst into silver fire.
"I'm done listening."
Kaelen nodded.
"Good."
His eyes gleamed.
"Now we fight."
The shadows around him exploded outward.
Dozens of dark tendrils shot across the courtyard.
Selara reacted instantly.
She slashed her dagger through the air.
Silver lightning erupted from the blade.
The shadows disintegrated.
Draven charged forward.
His sword clashed against Kaelen's energy barrier.
The impact sent sparks flying.
Kaelen moved like smoke.
Fast.
Graceful.
Deadly.
He dodged Draven's next strike and countered with a blast of dark magic.
Draven blocked it with his blade but slid several feet across the stone.
Selara leapt into the fight.
Lightning followed her movement.
She struck at Kaelen with blinding speed.
Their powers collided.
Silver against black.
The shockwave shattered nearby windows.
Kaelen grinned.
"Now that's power."
Selara attacked again.
Her movements were faster now.
The storm amplified her speed.
Draven joined her from the other side.
Together they pressed Kaelen back.
Strike.
Block.
Counter.
The courtyard erupted into chaos again.
Lightning struck the ground.
Wind tore across the towers.
But Selara felt something new.
Confidence.
For the first time since the battle began
Kaelen was on the defensive.
Draven noticed it too.
"Keep pushing!"
Selara spun and slashed downward.
A massive bolt of lightning followed the strike.
Kaelen barely blocked it.
The ground exploded beneath him.
Dust and stone flew into the air.
Selara landed lightly.
Breathing hard.
Kaelen stood slowly from the crater.
His clothes were torn now.
His expression darker.
"Interesting."
He wiped blood from his lip.
"You're stronger than expected."
Selara lifted her glowing dagger.
"You're weaker than you thought."
Kaelen chuckled.
"Oh no."
He raised both hands.
The vortex above the estate pulsed again.
"You misunderstand."
The storm suddenly doubled in intensity.
The ground shook violently.
Selara's stomach dropped.
"What did you just do?"
Kaelen's eyes burned like silver fire.
"I stopped holding back."
The vortex split open.
A massive surge of dark energy poured toward the estate.
Draven's eyes widened.
"That blast will destroy everything!"
Selara stared at the descending power.
The entire Blackclaw estate was directly beneath it.
Hundreds of people inside.
Families.
Warriors.
Children.
Her home.
She clenched her fists.
"No."
The storm answered her.
Silver lightning erupted around her body.
Draven looked at her.
"Selara"
She stepped forward.
"I have to stop it."
Draven grabbed her arm.
"That energy will kill you."
Selara met his eyes.
Softly she said,
"Then don't let it."
For a moment they just looked at each other.
Rain falling between them.
The world burning around them.
Draven slowly released her arm.
"Come back to me."
Selara smiled faintly.
"I plan to."
She turned toward the sky.
The descending storm energy roared closer.
Selara lifted her dagger.
Silver lightning exploded upward to meet it.
And the fate of the Blackclaw estate hung in the balance.