The entire arena fell silent.
Not because of the army outside.
Not because of the hundreds of corrupted beasts surrounding the mountain.
But because of Aether's face.
Fear.
Real fear.
The Eternal King, the being who had slept beneath the mountain for centuries, was afraid.
The woman standing in the ruined entrance smiled slowly.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Terrifying.
Long crimson hair flowed behind her, and red eyes glowed like burning embers. She wore black armour decorated with silver markings nearly identical to Aether's.
Yet unlike him.
Dark energy surrounded her.
Corruption.
Pure corruption.
The beasts behind her lowered their heads immediately.
Not out of fear.
Out of worship.
"My King," she said softly.
Aether's expression hardened instantly.
"I am not your king."
Her smile widened.
"Still denying me after all these centuries?"
The atmosphere became suffocating.
Kaiden quietly stepped closer to me.
Magnus moved to my other side.
Neither Alpha looked comfortable.
Lucien frowned.
"You know her?"
Aether's silver eyes never left the woman.
"Unfortunately."
The woman laughed softly.
"Such cruel words after everything we've shared."
I felt a strange chill.
Everything about her felt wrong.
Not monstrous.
Not wild.
Controlled.
Intelligent.
Like Aether.
Which somehow made her more frightening.
One Elder whispered shakily:
"Who is she?"
The answer came from Aether himself.
"Nyra."
The name alone made the chained creature beneath the arena whimper.
Whimper.
A creature that feared nothing had just become afraid.
Nyra noticed.
Her smile became amused.
"Still alive? Impressive."
The chained creature immediately lowered its head further.
"My Queen."
Everyone froze.
Queen?
Aether's voice turned deadly.
"She was never Queen."
Nyra sighed dramatically.
"You always were stubborn."
Her red eyes shifted across the room.
Then they landed on me.
Everything changed.
Her smile disappeared.
The air around her became murderous.
"So."
She whispered the word.
"That's why you awakened."
My mark burned painfully.
Nyra's eyes widened slightly.
Then she laughed.
Not happily.
Not kindly.
Madly.
"Fate truly has a sense of humour."
I swallowed nervously.
"Who are you?"
She tilted her head.
"I was once her sister."
Silence.
Aether closed his eyes briefly.
Pain crossed his face.
Nyra continued smiling.
"The First Luna and I shared the same blood."
My heart stopped.
Sister?
The First Luna had a sister?
"Impossible," one Elder breathed.
Nyra's eyes flashed toward him.
The Elder instantly fell silent.
"History remembers only winners," she said coldly.
Aether stepped forward.
"Enough."
Nyra's attention returned to him immediately.
For a moment, her expression softened.
Not much.
But enough.
"You missed me?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Yet somehow.
It sounded like a lie.
Nyra laughed quietly.
"Still terrible at lying."
Kaiden frowned.
"Can someone explain what is happening?"
Aether's silver eyes darkened.
"Nyra betrayed the First Luna."
Nyra rolled her eyes.
"Such a boring version of the story."
"You murdered your own sister."
Silence.
Even the corrupted beasts became still.
Nyra's smile vanished completely.
For the first time, genuine pain appeared in her eyes.
"No."
She whispered it.
Then louder:
"I tried to save her!"
The mountain shook violently.
Dark power erupted around her.
The corrupted beasts howled.
Aether's expression became sorrowful.
"You destroyed everything."
Tears suddenly appeared in Nyra's eyes.
"And you abandoned me."
Those words hit harder than any attack.
Because for one brief second.
I didn't see monsters.
I saw two people carrying centuries of grief.
Then Nyra looked at me again.
And the softness disappeared.
Her eyes became cold.
"Give me the girl."
Kaiden stepped forward immediately.
"No."
Magnus joined him.
"Not happening."
Lucien moved beside them.
Even Orion appeared near the front.
Four Alphas.
United.
Against one woman.
Nyra looked amused.
"You think they can stop me?"
Aether's voice became dangerously quiet.
"No."
Everyone looked at him.
Aether slowly moved until he stood in front of me.
Between Nyra and me.
The Eternal King faced the Crimson Woman.
And after centuries apart.
He spoke the words that changed everything.
"I'll stop you."
Nyra stared at him.
Then slowly smiled.
Not cruelly.
Not mockingly.
Sadly.
"Good."
Tears rolled down her face.
"Because I have waited eight hundred years for you to try."
And behind her.
The sky turned blood red.