Chapter 6: The Heart of Ashbourne

A blinding pillar of white light erupted from Evelyn's body, illuminating the entire mountain.

The darkness surrounding Hollow Peak vanished instantly.

Every enchanted crystal shattered into thousands of glittering fragments.

The crimson chains binding Thaddeus, Ryland, Orion, and the royal guards dissolved into dust.

A powerful shockwave rolled across the battlefield.

Enemy soldiers were hurled backward as though struck by an invisible force.

"What... what is this power?" Marcus whispered.

The Oracle slowly fell to one knee.

"The Heart of Ashbourne has awakened," he murmured.

"The ancient bloodline has finally returned."

Evelyn floated several feet above the ground.

Her silver pendant hovered before her chest, glowing brighter with every passing second.

Golden symbols spread across her arms like living tattoos.

Her blue eyes transformed into radiant silver.

She felt warmth unlike anything she had ever experienced.

It wasn't painful.

It felt... familiar.

Like something inside her had finally awakened after years of silence.

Images flooded her mind.

An enormous castle surrounded by white roses.

A woman wearing a silver crown smiling lovingly at a little girl.

A man kneeling before burning gates, promising to protect his family.

Then came screams.

Fire.

Blood.

A baby being carried away beneath the cover of darkness.

"Mother..." Evelyn whispered.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as forgotten memories returned.

"They're my memories..."

"No," the Oracle corrected softly.

"They're the memories carried through your bloodline."

Kael's calm expression disappeared for the first time.

"Impossible!" he shouted.

"She wasn't supposed to awaken yet!"

"Kill her!"

"Kill her now!"

Dozens of soldiers rushed toward Evelyn.

Before any of them could reach her, a wave of brilliant white energy expanded from her body.

Every weapon aimed at her disintegrated into ash.

The attackers were thrown violently across the battlefield.

"She's not even controlling it," Orion muttered.

"The magic is protecting her on its own."

Ryland stared in disbelief.

"I've never seen power like this."

Thaddeus couldn't take his eyes off Evelyn.

For years he had been known as the strongest supernatural being alive.

Yet the power surrounding his mate felt far older than his own darkness.

Far purer.

Far more terrifying.

"Everyone fall back!" Marcus ordered the royal guards.

"Give Her Majesty room!"

The mountain continued trembling.

Large cracks appeared across the cliffside.

Massive rocks rolled into the valley below.

The awakened magic was becoming unstable.

"She can't control it!" the Oracle warned.

"If it continues expanding, the entire mountain will collapse."

"How do we stop it?" Ryland asked.

"Only one person can reach her."

The old man's eyes turned toward Thaddeus.

"Her mate."

Without hesitation, Thaddeus walked forward.

"Thaddeus!" Orion called.

"You'll be torn apart."

"Maybe."

"But I'm not leaving her."

Dark energy surrounded him as he stepped into the storm of white magic.

The opposing powers collided.

Black flames.

Pure white light.

For a brief moment, the entire battlefield became silent.

Evelyn slowly turned toward him.

Her glowing eyes no longer seemed to recognize anyone.

"Evelyn," Thaddeus called gently.

"Come back to me."

No response.

"You're stronger than this."

"You're not alone."

Another burst of magic exploded outward.

Even Thaddeus struggled to remain standing.

"Fight it!" he shouted.

"I know you're still in there!"

The silver light surrounding Evelyn flickered.

She heard his voice.

Faintly.

Somewhere beyond the flood of memories.

"Thad..."

Her lips barely moved.

He took another step closer.

"That's it."

"Look at me."

"You're safe."

"We're all here."

The storm slowly weakened.

The golden markings on Evelyn's arms began fading.

She descended gently toward the ground.

Before she could collapse, Thaddeus caught her in his arms.

The white light disappeared.

Silence returned to Hollow Peak.

"I saw them," Evelyn whispered weakly.

"My parents... my home... everything."

"We'll figure it out together," Thaddeus promised.

"I won't let anyone take you from me."

Across the battlefield, Kael watched with narrowed eyes.

Although dozens of his soldiers had fallen, he smiled.

"Excellent," he whispered.

"Now I know the prophecy is real."

One of his surviving commanders approached.

"Should we continue the attack?"

"No."

"We've learned everything we came for."

"The Queen has awakened."

"Phase Two can begin."

Kael crushed another black crystal beneath his boot.

A swirling portal opened behind him.

"Enjoy your victory while it lasts, Dark King," he called.

"Soon... the entire world will kneel before its true ruler."

With that, he and the remaining members of the Obsidian Circle disappeared into the portal.

The battlefield finally fell silent.

But deep beneath Hollow Peak...

Far below the ancient mountain...

Something enormous opened its glowing crimson eyes.