Bound by the Dark Prince

The chamber had transformed into something more than a gathering hall—it was now a battlefield of the mind and soul. Evelyn stood in the center, surrounded by the Bloodborn warriors. The torches flickered with an eerie glow, casting long shadows along the stone walls.

Lysara stood before her, a single dagger in her hand. "Power must be earned, my lady," she said, her violet eyes unwavering. "And the first lesson is control."

Evelyn swallowed hard. "What do I have to do?"

Lysara flipped the dagger effortlessly between her fingers. "We will push you to the edge, force you to awaken what sleeps inside you. Only then will you truly understand your potential."

Evelyn nodded, steadying herself. She had no time for hesitation. She had chosen this path, and she would walk it to the end.

Kael leaned against the stone pillar, watching her with a knowing smirk. "Don't disappoint me, little flame."

Lysara lunged.

The dagger glinted as it cut through the air, aimed straight for Evelyn's heart. Instinct screamed at her to move, but something deeper held her in place. The moment seemed to stretch, slowing into an eerie stillness. Then, just as the blade was about to pierce her flesh—

A surge of energy erupted from within her.

A pulse of darkness exploded outward, knocking Lysara back. The torches along the walls flared violently, their flames turning from gold to deep crimson. The warriors around her gasped in shock, stepping back as the air itself trembled with unseen force.

Evelyn clutched her chest, her breath ragged. The energy coursing through her veins was wild, untamed—a storm barely contained within her fragile human form.

Kael pushed off the pillar, his expression one of fascination. "Now, that's more like it."

Lysara picked herself up, brushing dust from her cloak. Instead of anger, her face held something close to satisfaction. "You hesitated, but your instincts did not."

Evelyn looked down at her hands. Black veins flickered beneath her skin before fading. "What was that?"

"The Bloodborn's gift," Lysara said. "Raw, unfiltered power. But uncontrolled, it will consume you."

Evelyn met her gaze. "Then teach me to control it."

Lysara nodded, but there was something almost solemn in her expression. "Understand this—once you master it, there will be no hiding what you are. The Council will know. And they will come for you."

A cold certainty settled in Evelyn's chest. "Let them."

Kael chuckled. "That's the spirit."

The warriors around her exchanged glances, some in awe, others in apprehension. They had sworn their loyalty to her, but now they were beginning to witness the true extent of what she could become.

Lysara sheathed her dagger. "Your training begins at dawn. Rest while you can, my lady. The next time we test your limits, there will be no hesitation."

Evelyn exhaled slowly, nodding. She could still feel the lingering energy within her, a fire in her blood that refused to be extinguished.

The war had not yet begun, but tonight, she had taken her first step toward claiming what was hers.

And the world would soon know the Bloodborn Queen had returned.