THE HIDDEN CROWN

Chapter 58

Victor gripped the edge of the altar as the ground beneath him trembled, the ancient energy swelling around him, making the air thick with power. His vision blurred, the weight of the centuries pressing down on him, the bloodline of the Harbinger stirring within his veins.

"Victor, stop!" Selene shouted, her voice barely audible over the growing rumble. She reached for him, but an invisible force kept her at bay.

"This is the only way!" Victor called back, his voice strained. He could feel the Harbinger’s presence growing stronger with every passing second, pushing against his will. He needed to act fast before it fully awakened.

Julian watched in horror, standing frozen as the cathedral seemed to come alive with the dark magic they had stirred. Shadows twisted along the walls, shapes and figures appearing and disappearing in the periphery of his vision. "Victor, we need you alive, man. There’s got to be another way!"

Victor closed his eyes, centering himself. The ritual was dangerous