The kingdom exploded.
Not with fire.
With memory.
Aliena felt it before she saw it.
A violent pressure tore through her skull, and suddenly the underground city was everywhere and nowhere at once.
The ancient streets.
The seven thrones.
The white throne.
The golden throne.
The black river.
Sebastian standing beneath a blood-red moon with blood running down his face.
Asher screaming.
A woman who looked like Aliena dying.
A little boy crying.
A crown breaking.
A door closing.
A hand reaching for hers.
And then Sebastian.
Always Sebastian.
His eyes were black.
Completely black.
No gold.
No red.
No trace of the man she knew.
"Mother…"
His voice came from somewhere deep inside him.
"Run."
Aliena froze.
The ground beneath her cracked.
"Sebastian?"
His head lifted slowly.
For one terrifying second, he looked directly at her.
And she knew he was still there.
Not completely.
But enough.
His fingers twitched.
His lips parted.
"Aliena…"
