The moment my boots stepped onto the floor of the inner chamber, the dark resonance beneath my ribs violently snapped to attention. The freezing, liquid shadow the demon god had poured into my womb flared to life, pulsing in perfect, terrifying sync with the vortex above.
"Stay at the perimeter," I commanded, my voice dropping into a flat, absolute tone that brooked no argument.
"Lyssa," Jerome muttered, his hand twitching toward my waist as if to hold me back one last time. "The energy down there... it's overriding the royal seals. It's too dense."
"I told you, honey," I whispered, turning my head just enough to let him see the sharp, needle-like intensity burning in my golden eyes. "I am the only one who can swallow this dark. Stand back and watch how a kingdom is bought."
I walked down the sloping stone steps alone, Ashen following me until we reached the edge of the central floor. I gave him a soft tap on the side, signaling him to wait at the base of the pillars.
