Chapter 129

I stood in the cathedral's entrance, shaking slightly with the weight of my decision. Ready or not, I needed to attempt to destroy the artifact once and for all.

"You're back sooner than expected," Elsa observed from where she knelt beside the altar. Her elegant fingers traced symbols in the dust with disturbing familiarity.

"The situation's accelerated," I said, my voice hoarse from the ride back. "We're out of time."

Elsa straightened slowly. Her calculating gaze took in my desperate expression and disheveled appearance. "How long do we have?"

"Hours. Maybe days at most."

She absorbed this information unflinchingly, just cold calculation.

"Then you'll need to attempt the activation tonight," she said finally. "Any delay risks the network growing too strong to break."

Something about the casual and practical way she discussed things made me frown.

"What did you expect? Emotional speeches about heroism and sacrifice?" Elsa's laugh was sharp as broken glass. "I’ve told you before, this is mathematics, Aurora. One life against thousands."

I nodded, just wanting to get this done with.

"Remember, the ritual requires complete emotional vulnerability," Elsa continued, producing her ancient notebook. "You'll need to open yourself to every betrayal, every loss, every moment of agony you've experienced."

My hands shook as I accepted the book. The pages felt wrong against my skin. Too warm. Too alive.

"Kane's abandonment should provide excellent fuel," Elsa observed with disturbing enthusiasm. "Raw betrayal from someone you trusted completely. The artifact will feast on that pain."

"Don't," I said sharply.

"It's not personal," she replied with that maddening calm. "Emotional pain is simply the most effective power source for this type of magic."

I wanted to hit her. This woman who spoke about my heartbreak like it was fuel for her engine. Who discussed my probable death like it was a tactical consideration.

But she was right. Kane's betrayal was a wound that hadn't begun to heal. The memory of finding him with another woman still made my chest feel hollow. Still made breathing difficult.

"Walk me through the activation sequence one more time," I said, forcing myself to focus.

Elsa's instructions were precise and brutal. The crystal had to be activated in three stages, each one requiring deeper emotional vulnerability. Each one consuming more of whatever made me human.

"Stage one opens the connection," she explained. "You'll experience echoes of everyone who's ever used the artifact. Their pain becomes your pain."

"Stage two establishes control. The artifact will try to overwhelm you with visions of power. Promises of revenge against everyone who's hurt you."

"Stage three channels the energy for destruction. This is where most people fail. The temptation to use that power for personal vengeance instead of the greater good."

"And if I fail?"

Elsa's expression grew uncomfortable. "Then you become another puppet in the network. Your consciousness joined to theirs, serving the Rogue King forever."

The description terrified me. But Timothy's broken body flashed through my mind. Sue barely conscious from silver poisoning. Christian tortured until he'd broken completely.

"There's something else," Elsa said reluctantly. "Something I didn't mention before."

My heart sank. "What?"

"The activation has to happen at the master artifact's location. You can't destroy the network from a distance."

Understanding suddenly hit me. "You're saying I have to get inside Blood Moon. Past all of Giana's defenses. With an untested magical artifact."

"I'm saying this was always a suicide mission," Elsa replied with brutal honesty. "I just didn't want to discourage you before you were committed."

I stared at her in disbelief. "You've been lying to me this entire time."

"I've been managing information to serve our mutual interests," she corrected. "You want to stop the network. I want revenge on David and Giana. This accomplishes both goals."

"While getting me killed in the process."

"Probably." Elsa's casual admission hit like a slap. "But you're going anyway, aren't you?"

Her perception cut straight to the truth. I was going to Blood Moon knowing I'd probably die in the attempt. Because failure meant the Rogue King's victory and the end of everything I'd sworn to protect.

"I'll need intelligence about current defenses," I said quietly.

Elsa produced a detailed map from her coat. "Giana's transformed the estate into a fortress. Guard rotations, magical wards, secondary defensive positions—everything you'll need to get yourself killed efficiently."

I studied the intelligence with growing dread. Blood Moon had become a military installation designed to repel conventional assault. Guard towers. Patrolling units. Magical barriers strong enough to stop a small army.

But it wasn't designed to stop someone desperate enough to use forbidden magic.

"The artifact's been moved," Elsa continued. "It now resides in Raymond's private study, inside a chamber specifically designed to amplify its power."

"Security around that area?"

"Extensive. But also predictable. Giana's using conventional defenses because she doesn't expect magical assault."

I traced potential infiltration routes with my finger. The hidden passages from my childhood wouldn't work anymore—Giana had sealed most of them. But the servant corridors might still be accessible.

"How long will the destruction sequence take?" I asked.

"If everything goes perfectly? Ten minutes." Elsa's smile was grimly amused. "Of course, nothing ever goes perfectly with forbidden magic."

"And if it goes wrong?"

"Then the backlash kills everyone within a mile radius," she said cheerfully. "Including you, me if I'm stupid enough to stay close, and anyone else unfortunate enough to be nearby."

The scale of potential destruction made my stomach turn. "You're talking about innocent people."

"I'm talking about collateral damage in a war," Elsa corrected coldly. "The network will kill thousands if it isn't stopped. A few dozen casualties to prevent that seems acceptable."

Her casual dismissal of innocent lives reminded me why I didn't trust her. She wanted revenge, not justice. The distinction mattered.

"I need to write some letters," I said finally. "In case things go wrong."

"Touching," Elsa replied with obvious disdain. "Just remember that sentiment won't protect you from magical backlash."

I spent the next hour composing final messages. Strategic intelligence for the Alpha King. Tactical recommendations based on everything I'd learned about the network. Evidence that could guide conventional forces if my mission failed.

The letter to Kane was hardest. What do you say to someone who'd broken your heart trying to protect it? Someone whose fear had driven him away just when you needed him most?

By the time you read this, I'll either be dead or something close to it. The forbidden magic required to destroy the network will likely consume whoever uses it. I'm writing because I need you to know that I understand why you left. Fear makes us do terrible things to the people we love.

I forgive you for choosing self-preservation over our partnership. I hope someday you can forgive yourself.

Take care of the Alpha King. Help him rebuild whatever's left after this war ends. And remember that what we had was real, even if it couldn't survive the weight of everything working against us.

I love you. Despite everything, I love you.

The words felt inadequate. But they were true. Despite his betrayal, despite the pain he'd caused, I still loved the man who'd once held me through magical agony and made me believe in partnership.

"Ready?" Elsa asked as I sealed the letters.

I looked around the cathedral one final time. Ancient stone. Filtered moonlight. The weight of centuries pressing down on this moment of decision.

"No," I said honestly. "But I'm going anyway."

"Good." Elsa's approval felt like poison. "Remember—embrace the pain completely. Let it fuel the magic. And don't listen to the artifact's promises."

"What promises?"

Her smile was sharp. "It'll offer you everything you've ever wanted. Kane's love. Raymond's redemption. Your friends' freedom. All lies designed to make you serve the network instead of destroying it."

I tucked the crystal deeper into my pack. The weight seemed to increase with each step toward the cathedral doors. Not physical weight—spiritual weight. The burden of carrying a weapon that would devour my soul to fuel its power.

The conspiracy had taken everything from me. Kane's love. Raymond's friendship. My pack's security. My friends' freedom.

But they hadn't taken my choice.

And tonight, I was choosing to fight back.