Chapter 132 part 3
**Avery**
The night of the Ancient One’s demand arrives too soon. The palace is quiet, the usual bustle of preparation replaced by an uneasy stillness. We’ve spent the day training, strategizing, and preparing ourselves for what’s to come. But no amount of planning can ease the dread settling in my chest.
We gather in the main hall, our group united yet tense. The Ancient One appears without warning, his presence filling the room. His dark eyes sweep over us, a slow, deliberate assessment that makes my skin prickle.
“Ready?” he asks, his voice smooth. No one answers. He smiles, a cold, calculating curve of his lips. “Good. Follow me.” We trail after him, our footsteps echoing in the silence. He leads us to a chamber I’ve never seen before—a room bathed in shadows, the air heavy with the scent of incense and something darker, something primal.
“The rules are simple,” he says, turning to face us. “You submit. Completely. To me. For one night. In return, I’ll tell you where Cora is.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. Submission. The word echoes in my mind, a challenge and a threat. James steps forward, his presence a shield between us and the Ancient One. “And if we refuse?”
The Ancient One’s smile fades, his eyes hardening. “Then you leave. But Cora stays lost to you until she comes to kill you.” The choice hangs between us, stark and unforgiving. I look at the others, searching for a sign of hesitation, but their faces are set, their determination unwavering.
“We’ll do it,” I say, my voice steady despite the fear churning in my stomach.
The Ancient One’s eyes flick to me, a spark of something—triumph?—flashing in their depths. “Wise choice, Queen Avery.” He steps closer, his presence overwhelming. “But remember, once you begin, there’s no turning back.”
I nod, my throat dry. “We understand.”
He smiles, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. “Then let’s begin.”
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