Selene's POV

The black crystal pulsed before me.

Once.

Twice.

Like a dying heartbeat.

I could barely breathe.

The Night Mother's voice echoed inside my mind.

Destroy the crystal.

My fingers tightened around my sword.

"You said that would free you."

It will.

"And kill you."

Silence.

Then—

Yes.

I stared at the crystal.

I had crossed the Shadow Realm for this moment. I had fought through darkness, faced Nyx, and risked my life to reach the Night Mother.

And now the only way to save her was to destroy her.

"There has to be another way."

There is not.

My eyes burned with tears.

"I won't do it."

Selene—...