The wind howled through the broken remains of the temple, swirling ash and debris in angry gusts. The scent of scorched stone and lingering power hung in the air. Selena stood silently over Lorenzo's lifeless body, her hands clenched into trembling fists.
Dante watched her with quiet grief, the golden fire still faintly flickering in his eyes. He had seen death before—too many times—but nothing prepared him for the pain etched into Selena's expression.
"He sacrificed himself," she whispered, brushing her fingers over Lorenzo's pale cheek. "He gave me the chance to finish this."
Dante knelt beside her. "And you did."
"But it's not over."
Selena's voice carried a weight heavier than grief. She looked past Dante, her eyes landing on the cracked seal etched into the earth. It glowed dimly, pulsing with something dark and ancient—something not yet done with them.
Elias approached cautiously, his own power thrumming at the edge of his skin. "That seal… it's still reacting."
