The crystal shattered.
Shards of dark stone scattered across the floor, skittering into the shadows. The hum died. The purple light flickered once, then went out. The pendant lay on the broken altar, its glow faint, wounded.
Lillith's scream cut through the silence.
She staggered, her hands dropping from the casting position. The shadow wall around her cracked, then dissolved. Her eyes found Lucian. The hatred there was old, patient, and cold.
"You broke it."
"You're still standing," Lucian said. "That was a mistake."
He moved.
His blades cut toward her throat. She raised her arm, and shadow coalesced around her forearm like a second skin. The blades clanged against it, scraping, not cutting. She shoved him back.
Cora came from the side. Her sword phased through Lillith's guard, but the shadow armor held. She twisted, kicked, and spun away before Lillith could counter.
"She's stronger than before," Cora said.
