Vale's POV
The creature's hand blocked out the sky as it reached for me.
"Vale!" Papa's voice cut through my terror. "Move!"
But I couldn't move. My body was completely drained. All I could do was watch that massive stone hand descending toward me like a mountain falling from the heavens.
Then Mom stepped between us.
"You will not touch my daughter," Elena said, her voice ringing with ancient power.
The creature paused, its burning eyes focusing on her with what might have been recognition.
"Guardian," it rumbled. "I remember your kind. You locked me beneath this city three thousand years ago."
"The Council of Guardians sealed you," Mom corrected. "And with good reason. You are Kosmar, the Dream Eater. You feed on magic itself."
"I prefer the term 'magic recycler,'" Kosmar replied with dark amusement. "Everything must return to the void eventually. I simply speed up the process."
