Elara's POV
Six, Corvus counts down, the glowing knife steady in his hand. Five. Four
Wait! I knock the knife away. I need to think!
There's no time to think! Corvus grabs my shoulders. Look at yourself, Elara! The corruption is spreading. In hours, maybe less, you won't be able to make rational decisions. The curse will own you.
I look back at the mirror. The dark veins are creeping up my neck now, reaching toward my face.
My heart hammers. If you cut my connection to the curse, do I lose all my absorbed magic? Everything I've gained?
Yes. You'll be completely human again. Powerless.
Then I can't do it. I push past him toward the door. I need this power to fight Morganna. To save
To save who? Kaelen? Corvus's laugh is bitter. He's immortal! He's survived three hundred years of this curse. He'll survive three hundred more. But you? You'll be dead and corrupted within days.
I won't let that happen.
You don't have a choice! He moves between me and the door. The corruption isn't like other curse magic. You can't just absorb it away. It's already part of you now, woven into your very soul. The more you use your power, the faster it spreads.
Then I'll use my power less.
You can't. That's the trap. Corvus's silver eyes are desperate. Morganna designed this curse specifically for you. Your absorption magic is addictive the more you use it, the more you need it. And every time you use it, the corruption spreads. You're caught in a cycle that only ends one way: with you becoming her weapon.
I slump against the wall. So what? I just give up? Let everyone die?
You save yourself. That's what heroes actually do they survive to fight another day.
That's what cowards do.
The words hang in the air between us.
Corvus flinches. I'm trying to help you.
Are you? I meet his gaze. Or are you trying to stop me from becoming powerful enough to threaten whatever plan you're really working on?
His expression freezes. What are you talking about?
I'm not stupid, Corvus. You show up everywhere at convenient times. You know too much. You always have the perfect solution ready. I step closer to him. Who are you really working for?
For a moment, he doesn't answer.
Then he sighs and lowers the knife.
You're right. I'm not just a hunter of dark magic. He walks to my window and stares out at the volcano. I work for the Ancient Council beings older than dragons, older than curses. They maintain balance between light and dark magic in this world.
And?
And they're afraid of what you and Kaelen are creating together. When you bond your absorption magic with his dragon fire, you're making something new. Something that's never existed before. The Council doesn't know if it will save the world or destroy it.
Ice fills my veins. So they sent you to stop us?
They sent me to observe. To report. And if necessary... He turns to face me. To eliminate the threat before it becomes unstoppable.
You're here to kill us.
If I have to. Yes.
I should be terrified. Should be running or screaming or attacking.
Instead, I laugh.
What's funny? Corvus asks, confused.
Everyone wants to use me, I say. Morganna wants to use me as a weapon. Kaelen wants to use me to break his curse. You want to use me to protect some ancient balance. My stepmother wanted to use me as a servant. My whole life, I've been a tool for other people's plans.
Elara
But here's the thing. I walk to the mirror and stare at my corrupted reflection. I'm done being used. Done being afraid. Done letting other people decide my fate. I turn to face Corvus. So no. I won't let you cut my connection. I won't give up my power. I'll fight the corruption. I'll fight Morganna. And if your Ancient Council has a problem with that, they can come face me themselves.
Corvus stares at me like I've grown a second head.
Then he starts to laugh real laughter, not bitter or mocking.
You really are extraordinary, he says, shaking his head. Stupid, but extraordinary.
I prefer 'brave.'
Brave and stupid often look the same. He tucks the glowing knife away. Fine. Keep your power. Fight your grandmother. Probably get corrupted and kill everyone you love. But when it all goes wrong and it will go wrong don't say I didn't warn you.
He moves toward the window.
Wait, I call. If you're supposed to eliminate me if I become a threat, why are you leaving?
Corvus pauses on the windowsill. Because I've been watching you for years, Elara. And despite everything despite the manipulation, the curse, the corruption you're still fighting to save people. That's not what weapons do. That's what heroes do. He looks back at me one last time. Prove me right. Be the hero. Not the monster.
Then he jumps out the window and disappears into the night.
I stand alone in my room, staring at my corrupted reflection.
A knock on the door makes me jump.
Elara? Kaelen's voice. I felt a disturbance. Is everything alright?
I quickly throw on a robe with a high collar to hide the dark veins on my neck.
I'm fine! I call out. Just... tired from training.
Silence. Then: May I come in? Please. I need to talk to you about something important.
I open the door.
Kaelen stands there, and he looks wrecked. His hair is messy like he's been running his hands through it. His silver eyes are wild with something between fear and hope.
What's wrong? I ask.
I've been researching. All day, going through every book in the library about absorption magic and dragon fire bonds. He grabs my hands. Elara, I found something. A way we might be able to break the curse without you dying.
Hope explodes in my chest. What? How?
There's an ancient ritual called the Phoenix Binding. If we perform it, our magic's don't just bond they merge completely. We become one being, sharing power, life force, everything. The curse couldn't tell us apart anymore. It would have to target both of us or neither of us.
But you said the curse kills anyone you care about
It tries to. But if we're technically the same person, it can't. The curse can't make me kill myself. His grip on my hands tightens. It's risky. The ritual could fail. We could die. Or we could lose our individual selves and become something neither fully you nor fully me. But Elara, it's a chance. A real chance.
I should tell him about the corruption spreading through me.
I should tell him that Corvus thinks I'm already becoming Morganna's weapon.
I should tell him that Lyris warned me about emotional curse corruption.
But looking into his desperate, hopeful eyes, I can't.
When would we do this ritual? I ask quietly.
Tomorrow night. Before Morganna's deadline. We perform the Phoenix Binding, merge our powers, and face her together as one unstoppable force.
And if it goes wrong?
Then we die trying. But at least we die fighting, not cowering. He cups my face gently. I'm done being alone, Elara. I'm done watching people I care about suffer because of this curse. I want to fight. With you.
The dark veins pulse under my skin, hidden by my collar.
The corruption whispers: Say yes. Merge with him. Take his power too. Become unstoppable.
But another voice smaller, quieter whispers: He deserves to know the truth. He deserves to know you're already corrupted.
Kaelen, I need to tell you something
A massive explosion rocks the citadel.
We both stumble. Through the window, I see fire erupting from the East Wing.
What the Kaelen starts.
Theron bursts through the door, his face panicked. My King! We're under attack! Morganna sent an army hundreds of cursed creatures. They're breaking through the outer walls!
She wasn't supposed to attack for two more days, I gasp.
She lied, Theron says grimly. They're already inside the citadel. Servants are dying. Guards are falling. We need you both. Now.
Kaelen's eyes flash with dragon fire. How many?
Too many to count. And they're not just killing they're spreading curse corruption with every touch. Anyone they infect becomes one of them within minutes.
My blood goes cold.
Curse corruption that spreads by touch.
Exactly like what's happening to me.
I'll go, Kaelen says, already moving toward the door. Elara, stay here where it's safe
No. I grab his arm. If they're spreading corruption, I can absorb it. I can cleanse the infected people before they turn.
It's too dangerous.
We don't have a choice. I meet his eyes. You need me. The citadel needs me. So let's go save everyone.
For a moment, he just stares at me.
Then he nods. Together.
Together.
We run through the corridors toward the sounds of battle. All around us, people are screaming.
We burst into the main hall and stop dead.
Hundreds of creatures fill the space twisted, corrupted beings that were once human or dragon. Their skin is black with curse veins. Their eyes glow red. And every person they touch turns just like them.
At the center of it all stands a figure I recognize.
Serafine.
My stepsister.
But she's changed. Curse corruption covers her entire body. Her eyes burn with red fire. And when she sees me, she smiles with too many teeth.
Hello, sister, she says, her voice layered with unnatural echoes. Morganna sends her regards. And a message.
What message? I demand.
Serafine's smile widens. That if you want to save these people, you'll have to absorb all this corruption. Every last drop. And when you do... She laughs, the sound like breaking glass. You'll finally understand what you really are. Not a hero. Not a savior. Just another monster in Morganna's collection.
The corrupted army surges forward.
And I realize with absolute horror:
This isn't an attack.
It's a test.
Morganna wants to see if I'll absorb all this corruption to save everyone.
Wants to see if I'll willingly push myself over the edge.
Wants to prove I'm already her weapon.
Kaelen's hand finds mine. What do we do?
I look at the hundreds of corrupted beings.
At the dozens of people still fighting, still dying.
At Serafine's knowing smile.
And I make my choice.
We fight, I say. And I absorb every drop of corruption in this citadel. Even if it destroys me.
Elara, no
It's the only way to save them. You know it is.
I pull away from him and step forward.
The corruption inside me surges with hungry joy.
And as I open myself up to absorb the curse from hundreds of infected beings at once, I feel myself starting to change.
Starting to become exactly what Morganna always knew I would be.
A monster.
But a monster who chooses to save people.
And maybe that makes all the difference.
Or maybe I'm just lying to myself.
I guess I'll find out.
The corrupted army crashes into me like a wave.
And I begin to drown.
Again.