The hand hung between them, glowing violet, trembling with the promise of everything Aria feared and craved.
Her fingers hovered inches away. Her reflection's eyes gleamed, tender yet hungry, like a predator luring its prey with soft whispers.
"Don't you see?" the reflection breathed. "You've always wanted this. Their crowns. Their power. Their love. But you're too afraid to admit it. Too afraid to take it."
Aria's chest heaved, her pulse hammering loud enough to shake her bones. The fire inside her surged higher, begging her to reach out, to seize what was hers.
But another voice — quiet, desperate — whispered back: If you touch her, you won't come back.
The glass beneath them shuddered as cracks raced outward like veins of lightning. Pieces of the starry sky above rained down, burning holes through the void.
Her reflection never flinched.
Instead, she leaned closer, her smile widening, her lips brushing against Aria's ear.
"Let them fight over you. Let them bleed. But in the end, only I will stay."
The warmth of her breath made Aria shiver. Her fingers trembled closer, nearly brushing the outstretched hand.
A single touch would bind them.
Outside, the crystal pulsed violently, violet light flickering like a heartbeat.
The Verdant King's emerald aura flared, his patience unraveling. "If we wait any longer, she'll be consumed!"
The Solar King's eyes burned like suns, his voice edged with disdain. "If you break the seal, you'll kill her."
The Frostlands King's blade gleamed with frost. "Better death than corruption."
The Crimson King snarled, his molten blade dripping fire. "Better corruption than nothing at all!"
The air between them crackled, their powers colliding, stones splitting beneath their feet. None of them noticed the shadow slithering further, curling around their boots like smoke.
Back in the void, Aria's lips parted as she whispered: "Why me?"
Her reflection tilted her head, eyes blazing with violet fire. "Because they were never kings at all. They were just men waiting to kneel before a queen."
Aria's heart stuttered, heat rushing through her veins. Her reflection's words sank deep, filling the hollow ache in her chest she had tried so long to ignore.
"Don't you feel it?" the reflection murmured, pressing closer, her hand still outstretched. "The world wants you to rule. To take. To burn. All you need to do…"
Her glowing fingers brushed Aria's trembling knuckles.
"…is stop saying no."
The glass exploded.
Aria screamed as power surged through her, violet fire consuming her veins, her skin, her eyes. For a heartbeat, she saw through her reflection's gaze — saw the kings outside, kneeling, bleeding, worshipping her. Saw herself crowned in fire, the Grimoire chained at her feet.
Her breath hitched.
It felt good.
So good it terrified her.
Her reflection smiled, her voice echoing from inside her own chest now.
"Yes. That's it. Now you understand."
Outside, the Frostlands King stumbled back as the crystal flared violently. The air froze in his lungs, his blade shaking in his grip.
"She's merging."
The Verdant King's emerald aura cracked, his teeth bared. "No. She's being taken."
The Solar King's golden glow dimmed, but his voice remained cold, distant. "She is choosing."
The Crimson King's molten blade burned brighter, fire spilling into the cracks of the courtyard. His voice was raw, breaking.
"Then I'll tear her free with my bare hands!"
But before he could move, the shadow that had been circling struck.
It rose like smoke, then solidified into a figure cloaked in black flame, its face hidden behind a mask of shifting bone. Its voice was low, guttural, almost amused.
"Kings of Hollowmoor," it hissed. "Still squabbling like children."
The four froze, blades raised, a rare moment of shared shock.
The shadow tilted its head, amused. "While you argued, she has already been claimed."
Its masked face turned toward the crystal, violet light flickering in its hollow eyes.
"She belongs to us now."
Inside, Aria's hand locked with her reflection's, violet fire binding them together as her scream split the void.
Outside, the shadow drew a blade of pure darkness — and for the first time, the kings realized they were not the only ones fighting for her.