Chapter 45

• LYDIA
• There is a cry that echoes through the darkness, piercing my mind and tormenting my senses. It feels alive, like a monster made of sound and rage, a roaring chimera trying to frighten me back into weakness. But I am not the same anymore. I am stronger now, and I can fight it. This time, Baron is the one at a disadvantage.
• My eyes open, and I find myself in a place that looks like a nightmare brought to life. Baron sits on a throne made of rusted metal, and his once beautiful silver hair falls across his face in tangled strands. His skin is covered in burns that refuse to heal, and a foul smell comes from them, sharp and bitter. Pain marks his expression, but as I draw closer, I can feel it inside me too, like a connection that burns through both our veins.