Selene's POV

The First Shadow's words remained inside my mind.

Become the darkness that balances the light.

I stared at the black crystal in the center of the chamber, watching the darkness move beneath its surface.

I had fought my entire life to escape darkness.

I had survived betrayal, hatred, imprisonment, and death. I had fought shadow wolves, faced the Shadow Queen, and stood against the Moon Goddess.

Now the First Shadow was asking me to become what I had spent so long trying to destroy.

My fingers tightened around my sword.

"I cannot do that."

The darkness inside the crystal stirred.

You can.

"What will happen to me if...