The raid had been swift. Too swift. Darius and his crew had infiltrated Kellan's hideout, a fortress deep in the heart of the city. His men had moved through the building like shadows, cutting down anyone who dared to stand in their way. The battle had been messy, but Darius was focused—focused on one thing: Kellan.
The enemy sorcerer had anticipated the attack, of course. He always did. And yet, Darius hadn't expected the ambush that awaited him in the center of the complex—Lyra.
She stood in the middle of the room, her back to him. The atmosphere in the room was thick, oppressive, like the calm before a storm.
"Darius," she said without turning around, her voice soft. "You should have listened. I told you not to trust me."
Before he could react, Kellan appeared from the shadows, a cruel grin curling at the edges of his lips. He wasn't alone. Behind him were several of his most trusted men, each one armed with blades and magic. The air hummed with the dark energy they controlled.
"You've made a grave mistake, Darius," Kellan said, his voice silky smooth, as though he were savoring every moment. "You really think you could take me down without consequence? You've fallen into my trap. And now..." He raised his hand, and the room seemed to darken. "Now, you will burn."
The first blast of magic hit Darius square in the chest, throwing him back against the wall. His vision blurred for a moment, the pain searing through him like fire. But there was no time to dwell on it.
Lyra's betrayal cut deeper than any magic or bullet. She had been playing him the entire time. He had trusted her—maybe more than he should have—and now, she was part of the reason his world was collapsing around him.
"Why?" Darius rasped, struggling to his feet. "Why, Lyra? After everything we've been through, why would you side with him?"
She turned to face him, her eyes filled with a mix of regret and something darker. "I'm not the one you should be angry with," she said, her voice steady. "You made this happen. You trusted the wrong people, Darius. It was always going to end this way."
The weight of her words hit him like a physical blow. His heart twisted as the truth sank in—she had never been on his side. She had been using him, the same way she had used everyone else.
But this wasn't the end—not yet. Darius would make sure of that.
With a roar, he lunged at Kellan, his hand gripping the handle of *The Beast*. Magic surged through him, fed by the rage that boiled within him. But just as he closed the distance, a powerful force slammed into him, knocking him backward once more.
Lyra's voice echoed in his ears, "Don't fight this, Darius. You can't win."