Chapter 95

Seris’s POV

“Ever wondered why I trained you?!” Valeria’s voice rang out like a challenge. She crossed her arms, and in that instant a shimmering barrier sprang to life between us. Its invisible force slammed me backward; I tumbled against a granite boulder and felt the sickening crack of ribs beneath my chest. Pain exploded through my body as I hit the rock, and I swore I heard bone fragment.

“Seris, are you all right?” Eirwen’s concerned voice cut through the chaos. She hovered nearby, robes billowing. “You’re doing brilliantly—don’t lose heart!”

Gasping, I pushed myself up on trembling arms. “I’m fine, Eirwen,” I panted. “Focus on keeping the baby safe. And tend to my wounds as soon as I can heal.”

Valeria took a deliberate step forward. Her lips curved in a cruel smile. “My niceties were but a facade—designed to lower your guard.” Black tendrils snaked out from her sleeves. They writhed through the air, slimy and sinister. In seconds, they curled a