The ground trembled beneath them, a low rumble vibrating through the stone. Jace felt the pull of the shard again, as though it were calling to him, begging for release. His heart hammered in his chest, every instinct screaming at him to harness it, to use it. But he didn't know the cost.
The alpha Guildhound's eyes locked onto him, its bloodshot gaze filled with an eerie hunger. It was no longer just a beast, but something far more dangerous—a predator driven by a purpose that Jace couldn't understand. It moved with purpose, its twisted muscles rippling as it advanced, claws scraping against the jagged stone beneath its feet.
Zariah was already a few steps ahead, her hand outstretched, pulling Jace back. "Not now. You're not ready," she warned, her voice low and urgent.
But it was too late. The shard inside him was demanding attention, its presence sharp and insistent. Jace could feel the power inside of him, ready to break free. And against every ounce of his restraint, he knew that if he didn't act now, the Guildhound would rip them apart before they had a chance to escape.
"Step aside," Jace growled, his voice rough from the strain.
Zariah's eyes narrowed, but she didn't move. "You think you can control it? You'll destroy yourself, Jace. That power is too much for you."
But Jace wasn't listening. Not anymore. The shard's influence was overwhelming, drowning out the voice of reason. The beast lunged, its claws slashing toward him with blinding speed. In a desperate move, Jace called upon the energy coursing through his veins, his body lighting up with a crackling force.
The world around him seemed to slow as the power surged to life. His hands moved faster than his mind could track, thrusting the dagger forward with deadly precision. But it wasn't just the dagger that struck—it was the raw energy of the shard, amplifying every movement, sending waves of force crashing into the Guildhound's chest.
The creature howled in pain, stumbling back as the force hit it like a hammer. Its body contorted, bones cracking, skin tearing as it tried to maintain its footing. The air grew thick with the stench of blood, and Jace could feel the dark magic swirling, wrapping itself around his thoughts like a suffocating fog.
Zariah's eyes widened as she watched the destruction unfold. "I told you…" Her words trailed off, and Jace barely heard her. The shard was alive in him now, and it was all-consuming.
The Guildhound was on its feet again, faster, angrier. It wasn't finished yet. Its claws scraped the ground, and it lunged once more, aiming straight for Jace's throat. He was faster this time, anticipating the attack. His hands crackled with energy as he raised them in front of him, ready to strike.
But something stopped him.
A sudden shift in the air. A presence behind him.
Jace whipped around, his heart leaping into his throat. A figure emerged from the shadows, her silhouette haunting in the dim light of the cavern. It was her—the woman from the auction, the one who had been watching him from the beginning.
Selene.
Her bloodstained figure stood tall, her eyes glowing with a strange, unsettling light. The power radiating off her was palpable, and for a brief moment, Jace forgot everything—his pain, his desperation, even the shard that still pulsed inside him.
"Don't," she whispered, her voice like velvet, but with an edge that was sharp enough to cut through the tension. "You don't have to do this, Jace."
He hesitated, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Selene moved closer, her gaze never leaving his. There was a power in her that he couldn't quite place, something more than just the physical aura she exuded. It was seductive—a pull that made his chest tighten in a way he hadn't expected.
The Guildhound roared behind them, but neither of them flinched. Selene stepped forward, her hand gliding through the air like a whisper. She raised her fingers, and the space around them seemed to bend, rippling with a dark energy that could only come from someone who had mastered far more than Jace had ever known.
With a flick of her wrist, the Guildhound froze midair. The beast's claws halted just inches from Jace's face, suspended in an invisible force. Its body quivered as though it were caught in a storm, unable to move.
"Take it back," she said softly, her gaze now fixed on Jace. Her words were more than a command—they were a promise. A promise of power. A promise of something more.
Jace felt the power in him warring against the force she commanded. He clenched his fists, his mind struggling to maintain control of the shard. But with Selene standing there, so close, so confident, he felt the desire to surrender.
To let her take the lead.
Zariah, still standing by the entrance, cast a wary glance at Selene. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice strained. "You can't control him."
But Selene didn't answer. Instead, she focused on Jace, her lips curling into a half-smile. "I think we can help each other, Jace. Together, we can be unstoppable."
The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. And just as Jace opened his mouth to respond, the Guildhound snapped its jaws, its body jerking as if trying to break free from whatever hold Selene had placed on it.
Jace felt the sharp pull of the shard again, and for a fleeting moment, he considered embracing the darkness. But something in Selene's eyes held him back.
It was a dangerous game, and for the first time, Jace realized he didn't know if he was ready to play.