Chapter 2
THE COLD ALPHA KING
Aria woke inside the Moonshadow Palace.
Her sword was gone.
Her magic was sealed.
She was sitting inside a luxurious room rather than a prison.
That annoyed her even more.
The door opened.
Lucian entered.
Aria crossed her arms.
“Am I your prisoner?”
“No.”
“Then why am I locked inside?”
“To keep you alive.”
She frowned.
“From what?”
Lucian looked toward the window.
“The thing that woke when we touched the crystal.”
Aria became serious.
“What thing?”
Before Lucian could answer, the palace shook.
A roar echoed across the kingdom.
The windows shattered.
A creature made of black smoke appeared above the castle.
Lucian drew his sword.
Aria immediately stood.
“You need my help.”
“I don't.”
The creature attacked.
Lucian's shadow magic struck it.
It barely moved.
Aria released her sealed power.
A blast of crystal magic exploded from her hands.
The creature screamed.
Lucian stared at her.
“You lied about your power.”
Aria smiled.
“You didn't ask.”
They attacked together.
Shadow and crystal magic combined.
The creature vanished.
But before disappearing, it whispered:
“The Celestial Alpha has awakened.”
Lucian looked at Aria.
She looked back.
Neither liked what they had heard.
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