Page 94 of What Beats Within the Tunnels

“What tomb?” I demand, sidestepping his aggression and focusing on Drew. She’s unfazed, her signature nonchalant expression intact.

“The magical tomb deep within the hive. Constructed ages ago in anticipation of a formidable dark Sorcerer. Its power surpasses the bars that held Onyx. Once inside, all magic is rendered useless.”

“Try it, and you’ll have to contend with me,” Colton declares, advancing defiantly.

Drew, ever the peacemaker, interjects, “Let’s not resort to rash decisions. Lyra isn’t a threat if treated with respect.” But as Drew attempts to stabilize the rising tension, I sense the fire within me blazing hotter and the shadows cocooned beneath my flesh writhing, eager to burst forth.

Roland and Auelina, in unison, rise to their feet, confronting us. “Facing you is no concern of mine, young man. To me, you’re as volatile as she is,” Roland spits out.

The restraint I once had wavers, allowing a surge of my arcane energy to ripple through the chamber. An icy chill settles, and shadows cascade, swallowing some of the chamber’s light. This partial unleashing of my dark capabilities feels invigorating, and I revel in the immediate relief it brings to my being.

In a heartbeat, Roland and Auelina unleash their powers, catching me off guard. Roland hits Colton with a magic surge so potent that I sense Colton’s shock and pain through our bond, and I involuntarily let out a scream. Almost simultaneously, Auelina’s magic crashes into me, feeling like a shard of ice piercing my heart. Though Colton quickly regains his footing, Granger intervenes. I catch fragments of their exchange, but my ears are muffled by my rising fury and the onslaught of my dark magic.

Drawing all ambient light toward me, I absorb its essence, casting the room into complete darkness. I think I hear a gasp—perhaps from Colton’s mother—but it barely registers. Channeling the gathered energy, I shove my arms forward, releasing a dense, pitch-black orb of viscous energy straight at Auelina. I simultaneously release the light back to the room, wanting to witness her reaction. The sheer terror in her eyes, right before my magic engulfs her, is a sight to behold. She clutches her chest, stumbling back into the table before collapsing to the ground.

I tilt my head back, a grin spreading on my face. The electrifying sensation of sheer dominance ripples through me, feeling almost euphoric. This intoxicating power of darkness is something I’ve never experienced before, and in that moment I succumb to the seduction. I grasp its allure. Embracing it, even briefly, is profoundly exhilarating—orgasmic even.

“Her eyes... What’s happened to them?” the woman beside Larc murmurs. My fingertips graze my face, and I’m confused about what she means, but it’s the reactions of Colton and Nyx that really ground me. Colton, no longer restrained by Granger, and Nyx, poised, looking like he’s ready to intervene, with Drew at his side.

I glimpse Roland beside Auelina, motionless, and a surge of realization and intoxicating power courses through me, beckoning me, caressing every fiber of my being. The stares of everyone are intrusive, making my skin crawl, but the darkness within feels like a lover’s embrace, promising ecstasy and might.

Larc’s voice slices through the thick tension, “Everyone, take a breath. Let’s talk this through.” But I can barely hear him against the symphony of power playing within me, urging me to dance to its seductive tune.

Roland’s voice, dripping with venom, pierces my thoughts. “She’s gone because of you!” His charge toward me is halted by an instinctive lash of my shadow tendril. As it tightens its grip, Roland’s voice, desperate and filled with dread, shouts, “She must be stopped now!”

I’m captivated by the sight before me—Roland, choking on my power. The thrill is electrifying, addictive, a siren’s call beckoning me into deeper waters of dark magic.

A distant murmur, “Lyra, my shadow,” reaches me. It’s Colton, his presence a gentle anchor, but the lure of my power pulls me away.

Nyx, trying to be the mediator, steps closer, hands raised, voice soothing. “Lyra, let’s resolve this. Release him. No one will harm you, I promise.” The seductive promise of the darkness makes me revel in Roland’s plight. Each gasp he takes is an affirmation of the power I’ve embraced. I morph my shadow into something with more substance, a dense suffocating force. As I consider deepening my grasp, Larc is upon me. My shadows retreat as he clamps his arms down around me from behind. Roland coughs out remnants of my essence, gasping for air, and Larc’s grip tightens around me.

In Larc’s grip, I thrash, momentarily disconnected from my magic. Cast to the floor, I try to remind myself of his alliance, that he doesn’t seek to harm, only to halt my descent. Yet, as he struggles to pin me down, his form warps grotesquely.

His face twists, and those piercing blue eyes staring into mine become hauntingly familiar. A torrent of memories featuring Aidan floods my mind, and a debilitating panic grips me, suffocating every breath, until I surrender once more to the intoxicating pull of my dark magic.

Chapter 34

Nyx

In the tense stillness of the room, Roland’s violent coughs, filled with a black, tar-like substance, echo eerily. Every gaze fixes on Larc and Lyra, their struggle evident. Despite Larc’s intentions, every fiber of me screams to intervene. Her screams of anguish pierce the silence, echoing with a terror that’s hard to describe. I watch Larc’s face begin to warp, hinting at an imminent shift.

Glancing to my right, I see Colton’s parents shielding him protectively or restraining him from intervening. I can’t tell which. Drew, Granger, and Elspeth exchange hushed words—maybe pleading for Colton’s release? Kaine and Sybil flee the room, fucking cowards.

Feeling a surge of urgency, I get ready to step in. But before I can, Lyra sends Larc soaring through the air. His pained howl fills the room, and a consuming darkness engulfs her. It’s not just any shadow—it’s alive, swirling around her as if she’s its very core. Dark tendrils emanate from her, entrapping Larc. His growls, though menacing, don’t seem to shake her.

She rises, and the sight captivates me. Her eyes, no longer recognizable, appear as infinite wells of swirling obsidian. Dark veins mark her face, and the shadows wrap around her, as if they’re part of her very being. Her once white-blonde hair flows like a torrent of night itself. She’s both hauntingly beautiful and terrifying.

Pushing past my shock, I try to reach out to her. “Lyra, Princess, let’s release Larc and talk. I know your emotions are running high, and this new power is overwhelming. But I believe you’re stronger than this. Control it.” I take a step, hoping for a glimmer of recognition. Yet she seems utterly lost, distant, oblivious to my pleas.

The room’s tension spikes as Roland’s voice cuts through, “Forget caging her. She needs to be put down!” With a furious yell, he launches himself at Lyra, his hands alive with power. A rush of his magic surges past me, aimed directly at her. But instead of the expected impact, she remains unyielding, barely moving an inch.

“All of us, Granger! We need everyone!” Roland’s voice is tinged with frustration.

My heart races, fearing for Lyra. They might actually harm her if they deem her uncontrollable. Determined, I extend my hand, reaching through the thick shadows to grasp hers. I pull her gently, urging her to face me. Her gaze falls upon me, but it’s distant, curious—as if she’s never met me. Even so, I’m not afraid. My love for her is unwavering.

“Lyra, come back to me,” I whisper, and for a moment there’s a hint of recognition. The blackness in her eyes begins to recede.

But the moment is shattered as Libby, in her shifted form, lunges. Colton, breaking away from his constraints, intercepts her, pinning the she-wolf to the ground. She rises quickly, but Lyra’s focus has shifted back to the Lycans, her connection with me lost.