Seraphina watched her friend's descent into darkness with growing trepidation, her heart aching at the sight of Elara's anguish. She tried time and again to reason with her, to pull her back from the brink, but her words fell on deaf ears.

"Elara, this isn't the way," Seraphina pleaded, her voice strained with desperation. "Damien wouldn't want you to lose yourself to hatred and vengeance."

Elara whirled on her friend, her eyes blazing with a fury that sent a chill down Seraphina's spine. "Don't speak his name," she snarled, her fingers curling into fists. "Not after what Asher did."

Seraphina flinched, her heart constricting at the venom in Elara's tone....