Page 38 of Night Fae (Monsters of Veridia #3)

"Divide what?" Adrian asked.

"A consciousness too vast for any single reality," Leon continued. "The shadow paths are its chains, spread across different worlds. And now, thanks to the weakening barriers, it's reforming."

Lord Darius stepped forward, his cold eyes fixed on Leon. "Then we must strengthen those barriers immediately."

"Yes," Lady Morvena agreed, her calculating gaze sweeping across the group. "And we already have the means to do so." Her eyes lingered on the four humans—Leon, Adrian, Daniel, and Malik. "Four humans with Barrier Keeper ancestry. Four points to anchor a binding ritual."

Zev stiffened. He was always wary of whatever that woman wanted, and even more so where Malik was involved. "What are you talking about?"

Caelen stepped forward as well, ice crystals forming at his fingertips. "Explain yourselves."

Lady Morvena smiled, the expression never reaching her eyes. "These four carry the blood of the original Barrier Keepers in their veins, diluted through generations but still potent."

"That's why the shadow paths react so strongly to them," Lord Darius added. "Why they can manipulate the paths in ways others cannot."

Leon nodded slowly, the silver glow in his eyes pulsing. "He's right. Yuri knew this all along. It's why he orchestrated our meetings with Veridians. To weaken the barriers." His expression shifted to one of determination. "But we can use that same connection to repair them."

The temple shuddered again. A section of wall vanished completely, revealing a vast starless void beyond.

Prince Ashelon barked orders to his remaining guards, who spread out to secure the perimeter of the chamber.

"We have little time," the Prince declared. "The entity stirs beneath our feet."

Malik moved closer to Zev, his voice low. "Do you trust them?"

"Never," Zev growled, his hand moving to his dagger. "This is exactly how they work, by creating chaos, then positioning themselves as the solution."

Knox stepped forward, placing himself between the Night Court contingent and their group. "Why should we believe anything you say? For all we know, you orchestrated this."

Prince Ashelon turned to him. "If we wanted reality destroyed, we would simply wait. Your distrust, while predictable, wastes what little time remains."

Before anyone could respond, a violent tremor shook the temple.

Malik yelped, and even Zev almost fell over.

The floor beneath them cracked, shadows spilling through the fissures like bubbling liquid.

One of the Night Court guards was too slow to move—the ground opened beneath him, swallowing him in a flash of energy that left nothing behind, not even a scream.

"What was that?" Daniel cried, clutching Caelen's arm.

Leon staggered, the silver energy around him pulsing erratically. "The deity is pushing through the weakening barriers. It's happening faster than Yuri predicted."

Another violent tremor sent them all struggling for balance. Near the temple's entrance, columns began to crumble.

"We need to act now," Ashelon insisted, his usual arrogance tempered by genuine urgency. "Or there will be nothing left to argue over."

"The center seal is activating on its own," Leon pointed to the intensifying pattern on the floor. "The four of us need to take positions before it's fully awake."

Zev still hesitated, years of survival instinct screaming at him not to follow his family's direction. But Malik's hand found his, squeezing gently.

"I don't trust them," Malik whispered. "But I trust Leon. And I trust you to protect me if this is a trap."

Another section of the temple collapsed inward, reality warping around the impact point. Night Court guards scrambled to avoid being pulled into the distortion.

"We have no choice," Knox acknowledged reluctantly.

Leon moved toward the ritual circle without waiting for them. "Stand with your partners!"

Zev's jaw tightened. "And what about you?"

"He carries the Barrier Keeper's power now," Lady Morvena answered. "He will stand alone."

Zev shot her a glare, cut off by a massive crack that split the ceiling and rained debris onto the temple floor.

Caelen pulled Daniel closer, his voice raised over the growing chaos. "Your forces should maintain the perimeter. Whatever's trying to break through may send manifestations to stop us."

The Prince inclined his head in agreement and barked out orders.

Malik tugged on Zev's arm, pulling him toward the ritual circle as the others began to move as well.

Zev's eyes never left his father and grandmother. They might be cooperating now, but he knew them too well to believe their motives were pure.

The four humans took their positions at the cardinal points of the central seal.

Daniel to the north, Adrian to the east, Malik to the south, and Leon to the west. Caelen stood behind Daniel, his hands on his mate's shoulders.

Knox positioned himself similarly behind Adrian, while Zev reluctantly let himself be guided to the southern position by Malik.

"What do we do now?" Malik asked as blue light began to swirl around their feet.

"Focus on the center," Leon instructed, the silver energy from Yuri still pulsing around him. "Feel the connection to your Veridian partner and channel it toward the seal."

As the ritual began, faint lines of light stretched between the four humans, forming a square around the central pattern. The temple's shaking subsided slightly as the pattern stabilized, but something wasn't right. The energy seemed to flow unevenly, stronger in some places than others.

"It's not enough," Lady Morvena announced, her eyes fixed on the center seal. "The entity is too powerful for such a simple binding."

Lord Darius nodded in agreement, exchanging a meaningful look with his mother.

The two Night Court elders circled the ritual space, examining the energy patterns with calculating eyes. Their gazes repeatedly returned to Zev, who tensed under their scrutiny.

"What are they doing?" Malik whispered, not breaking his concentration on the ritual.

"Nothing good," Zev replied, instinctively moving closer to shield Malik.

As if coming to a decision, Lord Darius approached Zev with unexpected formality. Lady Morvena followed a step behind, her silver robes rustling against the stone floor.

"The time has come for you to redeem yourself," Darius announced.

Zev's gaze narrowed. He'd known the man was planning something. "Not interested."

"Don't be foolish," Morvena joined the conversation. "You will serve a greater purpose." Her eyes gleamed with anticipation. "The ritual needs a focal point. A vessel strong enough to channel and redirect the entity's power."

Zev looked between the two of them.

A cold shiver ran down his spine.

Did they mean…?

"You think I'll become that vessel."

"This way you can still serve your family!" Darius's voice took on an edge of excitement. "Your whole life we've taught you to compartmentalize your mind, to separate yourself from your emotions. You're perfect for this!"

Zev backed away. "No."

They couldn't be serious .

But Darius and Morvena had already begun chanting, their hands weaving complex patterns in the air. Before anyone could do anything, shadow matter coalesced around them, responding to their call.

"Stop!" Malik shouted.

Nobody listened.

The shadows surged forward, wrapping around Zev's body like liquid ropes.

No, he couldn't let this happen.

He was not going to be a slave to his family again. He was never going to be a slave to his family again.

Never!

He roared, his own shadow powers flaring in resistance, but whatever Darius and Morvena were doing made a different kind of power seep into his skin, tracing his veins in black lines.

Pain crashed through him—unlike anything he had experienced before. Not physical agony but the pressure of an ancient consciousness pressing against his mind, seeking entry.

"The ritual circle is faltering," Knox called out.

Energy diverted from the binding pattern toward Zev.

"The perfect vessel," Morvena observed with cold pride, maintaining her spell.

But through the haze of pain and the noise of incomprehensible thoughts in his mind, Zev felt a different sensation—a bright thread of warmth cutting through the invasion.

Malik.

It had to be.

Zev recognized that gentle energy, pushing back against the entity trying to claim him.

"What interference is this?" Darius demanded.

Morvena's voice took on a note of outrage. "They've formed a mate bond! Impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible when it comes to Zev," Malik gritted out, grasping Zev's arm firmly.

Darius snarled, redirecting his spell to slash at Malik instead.

It was all the impetus Zev needed to break free of the magic that bound him.

No one threatened Malik. Not while Zev still had breath in his body.

The darkness that had invaded his veins began to change—black lines brightening to a vibrant shade of violet. Energy surged through him, and Zev used it to push his father back.

"This can't be happening," Darius hissed.

"You never understood," Zev said, straightening as the last of the invasive shadows transformed within him. "And now your time has come."

Darius abandoned his attack on Malik and redirected his power back toward Zev, shadows sharpening into blades. "You are still our blood! You will serve your purpose!"

No, he would not.

Zev moved with inhuman speed, ducking beneath his father's shadow blades.

All the tricks they'd taught him, he would now turn on them.

With Malik's energy reinforcing his own, Zev struck at Morvena first—the architect of so much suffering. His magic sliced through her defenses, purple-edged shadows piercing her chest. "For every nightmare you fed on."

She collapsed, dark robes pooling around her as blood spread across the fabric, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Darius roared in fury, summoning a maelstrom of shadow. "You ungrateful child! After everything we've given you!"

Zev didn't honor his words with a response.

Darius's magic converged on Zev from all directions, but his new purple-tinged power formed a protective barrier. With a gesture, he redirected the storm back toward its creator.

Darius barely managed to deflect his own attack, but the effort left him vulnerable. Zev closed the distance between them in an instant, blade poised to strike.

"For Rhys," Zev said, his voice deadly quiet. "For Malik." His hand drove forward with unerring precision. "For myself."

Then he stood and watched the life fade from his father's eyes.

It was the most satisfying kill of his life.