Page 68 of Favored By the Stars

The beast reared back and then lunged again; its claws swiped toward me, and I barely dodged its strike while delivering another blow that dug deep into its flesh. But then Wyn's magic flared wildly once more, light dancing chaotically around us, and in an instant, it lashed toward Senara.

"No!" Panic surged through me as I leaped between them just in time to shield her from the blast of unstable energy.

The magic collided against my body instead; a searing pain shot through me like fire meeting ice. I staggered but regained my footing quickly as Volker and Senara wrestled the creature down.

With one last strike from Volker that crushed the beast's head, silence fell over us like a heavy blanket.

Breathless, I turned toward Wyn; anger bubbled inside me as fury washed over his face like waves crashing against cliffs. "You could have hurt her! You're letting your fear consume you," he shouted at her.

"Enough," Van said firmly from behind us as he stepped forward cautiously. But his presence didn't calm the tension swirling in our small group, it only thickened it further.

The air hung heavy with the scents of blood and rotting ichor in the aftermath of our skirmish. My heart raced, but not just from the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Anger simmered beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. I could still see the creature's twisted face, feel its claws raking against my skin, and the way Wyn's magic had spiraled out of control.

"Get moving," I barked, my voice harsh as I turned away from them all. I didn't want to look at Wyn's pale face or Volker's tense posture; I couldn't afford to let their fear infect me further. The Temple of Shadows awaited, a dark promise of answers and confrontation.

Senara caught up beside me, her brows knitted in concern. "Thorn–"

"Not now," I snapped, frustration leaking into every word. "We need to keep going."

She opened her mouth as if to protest, but I pushed forward without waiting for her response. My feet pounded against the earth, each step a release for my pent up rage. What little moonlight there was filtered through branches overhead, casting flickering shadows that danced around us like taunting spirits.

Van jogged ahead of me so he could lead the way while Wyn lagged, still shaken by what had just transpired. Her silence felt oppressive, a reminder of how close we had come to disaster.

"Stay alert," I warned over my shoulder. "We don't know what else lurks in this forest."

Volker matched my pace beside Senara, his brow furrowed in contemplation, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Thorn–"

"Enough!" My voice cut through the air like a knife.

Wyn flinched visibly at my tone; guilt stabbed at me for that momentary lapse in control. But it was buried beneath layers of fury that wouldn't relent.

The trees thickened as we pushed deeper into the woods, their gnarled branches twisting together like fingers reaching out for us, reminders of our precarious situation.

"I can't believe you risked it all back there," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. "We can't afford mistakes."

Senara moved closer again, determination flashing in her eyes despite her earlier fear. "And we won't make them again," she replied softly but firmly.

I gritted my teeth against that flicker of hope igniting inside me; doubt whispered lies in my mind even as we forged ahead through this shadowy labyrinth toward whatever awaited us in the Temple of Shadows.

But each step brought me closer to confrontation, not just with whatever dark forces lay ahead, but with my frustration and fears that were all swirling like a whirlpool within me.

The Temple of Shadows loomed ahead, its silhouette a jagged nightmare against the night sky. I felt the weight of exhaustion pulling at me, but I refused to show weakness. We needed to rest, gather our strength before confronting whatever lay within those darkened walls.

"Let's take a moment," I suggested, my voice hoarse from the adrenaline still thrumming through me. The others nodded, weary but resolute. We settled beneath the sprawling branches of an ancient tree nearby, its bark twisted and worn, as if it had witnessed centuries of battles.

As darkness wrapped around us like a shroud, I closed my eyes, hoping for peace. But sleep was elusive; visions from my previous encounters with the Void Dragon Empress invaded my thoughts like uninvited guests.

In my dreams, she appeared again, this time cloaked in shadows that flickered like flames. Her voice slithered through my mind like silk over steel.

"Ah, Thorn," she purred. "So devoted to the Eclipse Child. Such loyalty... It's sweet but misplaced."

I stood before her in this dreamscape, a dark expanse devoid of light. "Leave her alone!" My voice echoed with defiance, but inside me churned a mix of dread and uncertainty.

"Why? You could be so much more." Her laughter reverberated through the emptiness as images swirled around us, Senara standing strong beside me, radiant with power, yet slowly being consumed by shadows creeping at her edges.

"What do you want?" I demanded, fists clenched.

"Just to offer you a choice," she cooed. "Imagine being at Senara's side forever... But under my guidance."

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