Chapter 20: The Crimson Throne Stirs
The Shadow Crown pulsed on Lucien’s brow.
A low hum vibrated through his skull—like a heartbeat buried in black stone. Around him, kneeling former Matron brides remained still, their shadow-bound chains broken, now tethered only to his command.
He stood at the center of Noctremis, the long-dead capital of the Umbra Queen, bathed in fading eclipse light. The throne behind him still hissed with lingering energy, but the true danger now came from below.
Far, far below.
> [System Alert: Cataclysm Seed Detected]
[Seal Integrity: 3% | Critical Threshold Approaching]
Selene, standing beside him, narrowed her violet eyes. "That wasn’t just her throne. It was a lid."
Lucien turned, the weight of the crown heavy, but right. "Then it’s time to unearth what the Matron buried."
Lilith licked her blade, smirking. "She’s coming soon, isn’t she?"
Zaraya ignited both hands, fire coiling like snakes. "Let her come."
But it wasn’t confidence in the air. It was pressure—mounting like a rising tide. The kind of silence that came right before the world screamed.