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Chapter 16 - Chapter Sixteen: Till Death Do Us Part?

Location: Unknown – Nyra's Lair

Stone walls. Flickering violet torches. Black vines crawling across the floor.Rayna and Jett awoke back-to-back, bound by shadow chains.

Jett (groggy): "Ugh... This is not how I imagined being tied up with you."Rayna (deadpan): "Save the charm. We're in a void-saturated trap chamber with a psycho shadow bride."

Suddenly—footsteps.

Glowing eyes. Black claws. And... a flowing wedding dress made of shifting shadows and bone-laced silk.

It was Nyra. Grinning ear to ear.

Nyra: "He said he liked danger. So I planned the perfect union."Jett (panicking): "NOPE. I meant like skydiving, not life-binding monster vows!"

Nyra approached Rayna, holding out a glowing skeletal ring.

Nyra: "You. Smart girl. You'll be the ring bearer."Rayna (eyebrow raised): "You sure? I have terrible taste in accessories."

Nyra snarled.

Rayna (smirking): "Tell you what—free me, and I'll take your wedding photos. We'll make you two look so happy. Living your best unholy afterlife."

Jett snorted despite the fear.

Jett: "She's kidding. Right? Rayna? You're kidding??"

Nyra hissed—but something in her paused. Confused. Irritated. Uncertain.

Nyra (growling): "You mock my bond."Rayna (calmly): "I mock your lack of boundaries."

Meanwhile – Outside the Lair

Kael, Lyra, Zayn, and Veyra followed the corrupted trail—getting closer.

Lyra: "We better hurry. I have a feeling things are getting... weird."

Nyra's Lair – Deep Void Chamber

Nyra paced in front of her chained "guests," her veil of black mist trailing behind her like smoke. Her voice echoed through the cavern, unnervingly sweet.

Nyra: "You'll see… Jett will learn to love me. It just takes time... and maybe a little spellbinding."

Rayna (sighing): "You know what this wedding's missing? A cake. Or consent. Mostly both."

Jett (deadpan): "I didn't even RSVP."

Nyra growled, stomping closer to Rayna.

Nyra: "You mock what you can't understand!"

Rayna leaned back, calmly analyzing.

Rayna (shrugging): "I do understand. You're lonely, clingy, and clearly into guys who talk too much. Tragic, really."

The Void Bride's eye twitched.

She turned toward Rayna fully—chains rattling—ignoring Jett just for a second.

Rayna (quick glance to Jett): "Now."

With a grunt, Jett twisted his wrist, sparking a blast of dark-cracking Nova energy from his cuff device. The weakened shadow chain snapped.

Jett (grinning): "I've had worse first dates."

He dove forward, grabbing a shard-blade from Nyra's ritual altar and slashed through Rayna's chains.

Rayna (standing): "About time."

Battle Ignites

Nyra screamed—her gown morphing into shadow tendrils as she attacked. Jett deflected with raw resilience, while Rayna ducked low, sweeping her legs.

Rayna: "You wanted a wedding? Here's your reception—fist to the face."

They fought as one—flipping, parrying, striking—buying time.

Just as Nyra summoned a storm of black chains again—

💥 —a blast of red fire tore through the ceiling.

Kael (landing): "Hope we're not too late to object to this marriage."Lyra (joining): "'Cause we brought backup."

To Be Continued…

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