The scent of burnt cedar and old magic filled the air when Valerian awoke. The pain that once tore through his body had settled into a dull ache, but his veins still hummed with the faint residue of shadow travel — raw, unhealed, and forbidden.
He blinked against the soft, golden light filtering through the vaulted ceiling. The room around him wasn't of the vampire empire — it was older, more alive. Vines crept across carved marble columns, the air thrumming with a heartbeat of its own. The sigils on the walls pulsed faintly, recognizing him as neither guest nor prisoner. He was in the Witch Empire... once again.
"You're finally awake."
The voice came from the far side of the room — calm, dry, but tinged with something that might have been concern. Ash stepped from the shadows, his cloak heavy with dust and the faint shimmer of protective runes. His silver eyes flicked over Valerian's form, assessing the damage.
"You crossed the veil not twice, but almost sixteen times..." Ash said, his tone somewhere between scolding and awe. "Most would have disintegrated by now. You're lucky you fell into one of my wards instead of being dragged back to the underworld."
Valerian tried to sit, grimacing. "Lucky isn't the word I'd use." His voice was hoarse. "You pulled me from the shadows?"
Ash shrugged lightly, moving to pour a viscous green tonic into a stone cup. "I didn't pull you," he corrected. "You fell through. The veil cracked around you — too much strain. I just made sure it didn't kill you."
Valerian accepted the cup, drinking it despite the bitter sting. "How long have I been here?"
" After you collapsed again... I guess it's...Three nights," Ash replied. "The Council's been busy in your absence."
Valerian's gaze sharpened. "What did they do?"
Ash leaned against the table, crossing his arms. "They called for Nickolas."
Valerian's expression darkened. "Of course they did."
"They've named him as heir," Ash continued, watching the reaction closely. "Citing the prophecy of Alexander's bloodline. The girl — Shyla — has been marked as the bridge. The Council plans to bring her to the empire within the week. Saphine's moving the threads faster than I expected."
At the mention of her name, Valerian's jaw tightened. "Saphine," he echoed quietly. "She's behind this?"
Ash gave a humorless laugh. "Behind everything lately. She's the one who orchestrated the ball in New York. She wanted Shyla there — wanted to see if the bloodline's resonance would awaken. It did." He tilted his head slightly. "You felt it too, didn't you?"
Valerian didn't answer. The memory burned too fresh — Shyla's voice, her eyes widening as she whispered Nickolas. The jealousy, the pain, the vow. His silence was enough.
Ash exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "I sent one of my spies to the empire's council chamber last night. The prophecy's been rewritten — conveniently — to favor Nickolas as the destined Lord. The council claims the bond with Shyla is sealed."
Valerian's eyes flared crimson. "It isn't. Not yet."
"That's what frightens them," Ash said softly. "Because if it ever seals your way — if she ever remembers you — their entire power structure collapses."
Valerian looked away, voice low and rough. "They fear what they cannot control."
"They always have." Ash stepped closer, lowering his tone. "And they also fear what you still carry — the true bloodline. You're the former Lord's son, Valerian. You were supposed to inherit everything. But the council buried you in history to mold their perfect puppet."
Nickolas.
The name sat like poison between them.
Valerian rose, unsteady but resolute. "Where is Shyla now?"
Ash hesitated. "New York. Under Leo's supervision — and now, under Council surveillance. They'll move soon. As Nickolas already declared her, his mate."
Valerian took a slow breath, steadying the fury simmering inside him. "Then so will I."
Ash frowned. "You can't cross again — not in your condition. The veil won't hold for you. You'll be torn apart."
Valerian's lips curved in a humorless smile. "You forget who trained me to control shadows."
Ash's tone hardened. "I also remember who nearly died doing it. You think I don't know why you're doing this? You think I don't understand?" His voice cracked slightly, rare for him. "You're not the only one bound to her blood, Valerian."
Valerian turned, eyes narrowing. "What are you saying?"
Ash hesitated, then exhaled. "The bond that ties Shyla to you… also ties her to Alishya. When the curse fractured, it split between bloodlines. Saphine wants to use her to bring Alishya back — to bind life to death through Alexander's descendant."
The realization struck him cold. "That's why Saphine cares. It was never about prophecy. It was about resurrection."
Ash nodded grimly. "And she'll burn both worlds to do it."
For a long moment, the chamber was silent but for the hum of magic. Valerian's hands clenched, shadows stirring faintly beneath his skin.
"I won't let her," he said finally.
Ash looked up, something like old loyalty flickering in his eyes. "Then you'll need allies. Not shadows."
Valerian met his gaze. "And you?"
Ash hesitated, then smirked faintly. "Let's just say I've been trapped in Saphine's game long enough to start breaking her rules."
He stepped closer, slipping a small obsidian ring into Valerian's palm. "You'll need this. It hides your essence from the Council — even from the veil. But use it sparingly. It feeds on your strength."
Valerian turned the ring over, its surface pulsing like a heartbeat. "Why help me?"
Ash's smile faded. "Because twenty years ago, she made me swear I'd do anything to bring Alishya back. And now I'm realizing that means saving Shyla first."
Valerian looked at him, a flicker of understanding passing between two men who had both loved, lost, and bled for the same curse.
The shadows stirred once more, whispering through the room, drawn to their resolve. Outside, the Witch Empire pulsed awake — the sky turning the color of wine, the sigils burning brighter. Fate was moving again.
And somewhere between shadow and light, two old friends prepared to break the laws of both their worlds.