Chapter 44. The Enemy Within

The white-gold power radiating from High Alpha Kalen slammed into Neriah, an invisible force of crushing spiritual order. The silver-saturated air of the Vale Territory channeled the energy directly at her, attempting to bind the chaos of the Ashen Flame.

Neriah screamed, clutching her chest as the internal burning intensified. She was being torn between two impossible forces: the Flame consuming her from within, and Kalen’s Severing power attacking her from without.

But the most immediate threat was the figure standing behind Kalen. The young courier, Lysandra, whose eyes were now pools of opaque, swirling darkness, and whose voice was a deep, guttural baritone that scraped against the silence.

“Don’t worry, Omega. The Severing will succeed. But the Flame won’t be Kalen’s. It will be MINE,” the ancient voice rasped from Lysandra’s lips.

Kael, shielding Neriah with his body, roared at the sight of the corruption. “Lysandra! Release her! What foulness is this?