Selene’s POV

The power surged through me, ancient and unfamiliar.

I stood on the balcony with my hands trembling as silver and gold light moved beneath my skin. The mark on my chest burned brightly, pulsing like a second heartbeat.

But beneath the warmth of the light, I could feel something else.

Darkness.

Cold. Ancient. Endless.

For a moment, fear tightened my chest.

Then I stopped fighting it.

The darkness did not disappear.

Neither did the light.

Instead, they settled together.

Not fighting.

Not consuming one another.

Balanced.

I slowly looked at my hands. Silver and gold intertwined across my palms, while thin black veins of shadow disappeared beneath the...