~Samantha~

Purple shot after them like his tail was on fire, barking so loud my ears rang. He circled their legs and the busted markings on the ground like he could smell something we were all missing.

“Kids!” I screamed, running so hard my feet barely touched the dirt. “What the hell is wrong with you two?”

Devon hit the ground first. One knee down. Diana followed right behind him, shaking like a leaf, tears still wet on her face, but she threw both hands up anyway. Silver light flickered out weak at first, then sparked harder the second it touched the edge of the array.

A crack split through the clearing. Black Moon cursed from somewhere behind Dominic and Killian. “Stop them before they ruin everything!”

“Yeah, because we’re totally taking orders from you now,” Dominic shot back.

“You’ll die from the backlash if they break it.”

“Bullshit!” Killian spat. “You’re just scared it’s actually working!”

I lunged for Diana and grabbed her arm hard. “We’re not doing this. Not today or ever. Both of you are coming with me right now.”

“Mummy, wait!” Diana tried yanking free. “It’s working! Just give us a minute!”

“Devon, listen to your mother.” Black Moon’s voice cut in.

I froze. Why the hell was he backing me up? Unless he was terrified.

“You know you’re screwing up when he agrees with you,” Dominic muttered. “I’m with the kids on this one.”

“Same,” Killian added. “Sam, you need to help them finish this.”

Devon coughed so hard his whole body jerked forward, but his face was set like nothing could change his mind. “Mum, please. If we stop now, he’ll just keep coming.”

“Don’t lecture me about things I already know,” I snapped.

“Then why are you fighting us?” His voice strained. “You heard what he said.”

Black Moon roared behind us and threw both hands forward. Shadows rushed at us, but the second they got close to the silver light pouring off the twins, they faded off.

“Oh, you crafty bastard,” I breathed. “You’re scared shitless.”

His eyes snapped to me. “Shut your mouth.”

Dominic laughed, vicious and mean. “Look at that. Big bad Black Moon finally found something he can’t handle.”

“Keep him busy!” I yelled.

“Or I thought we were playing with him all this while,” Killian fired back sarcastically, dodging another strike. “Either help them end this or drag them out and risk all our lives. Pick one fast.”

Black Moon lost it after that. Went at them like a man who just realized he was about to lose. Dominic blocked one hit and got thrown sideways. Killian tried slashing across Black Moon’s ribs again, but a blast of dark magic caught him square in the chest and sent him stumbling.

Diana screamed. “Daddy!”

“I’m fine,” Dominic barked, even though blood was running from his temple.

“I’m surprised you didn’t die from that,” Killian muttered.

Dominic dragged himself upright, murder written all over his face. “And I’ll be fully dead if you don’t focus.”

Black Moon’s eyes swept over all of us before landing on Diana.

A sick smile twisted his mouth. “Since her mother wants to waste time, I’ll start with the weaker one.”

“You won’t even dare!”

“I don’t mince words.”

Before I could grab her, shadows whipped around Diana’s body and yanked her off the ground.

“Mummy!”

My chest seized. “Diana!” 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The dark mist coiled around her arms, her waist, her throat, squeezing hard enough to make her cry out again.

“You bully, let her go!” I screamed.

Diana twisted in the air, sobbing so hard her words came out mangled. “Mummy, make him stop.”

Devon lurched forward, coughing so badly he could barely stay upright. “Leave her alone!”

Black Moon laughed. “You tiny little thing think I should be scared of you? Even your mother can’t stop me.”

Dominic lunged. Black Moon swatted him back with one violent strike.

Killian came right after, blade flashing, but Black Moon blocked him too and snarled, “Stay down unless you want to watch me suck the life out of her.”

“I’m going to kill you!” Dominic swore.

Black Moon barely glanced at him. His attention stayed locked on Diana like she was already his. “Children break easier and all that power transfers to me. You idiots should know that by now.”

I spun on Devon and grabbed his face, forcing him to meet my eyes. “Tell me the truth right now. Can you actually do this or you’re going to pass out?”

His breathing came rough and uneven, but his eyes held steady. “I can do it. You’ve to trust me.”

“Even without your sister?”

“I just did, look.”

Black Moon’s head whipped toward us.

“Don’t be stupid,” he warned. “You have no idea what you’re doing.”

“Oh, go to hell and kiss the Devil’s ass for all I care,” I spat. “You wanted me in this fight? Congratulations. You’ve got me now and I’m going to make you regret it.”

I dropped beside Devon and pressed my hand over his.

The silver light around his palm jumped instantly, hotter than before.

He sucked in air. “Mum.”

“Keep your head straight,” I cut him off. “You wanted to do this, there’s no backing out now.”

Purple started barking louder, racing in tight circles near the broken edge of the array before spinning toward Black Moon like he knew exactly where the weakness was.

Diana was still crying in the air, suspended and hurting.

“Sam, do it now before we lose Diana!” Dominic yelled.

I reached toward Diana. “Baby, look at me. Try reaching for me.”

Her fingers shook as she stretched her hand toward mine. “But I’m scared.”

“Mummy won’t let anything happen to you.”

The light burst as soon as our fingers touched.

This time it didn’t just glimmer. It went across the edge of the array like it had been sealed up and was finally free. The traces on the ground lit up and then broke apart with noise so loud that it made my ears ring. The shot hit Black Moon directly before he could get away.

The clearing was filled with his scream.

His body swayed violently, as if the hit had gone deeper than he had thought, and the shadows that had been wrapping around him began to fall apart in rapid bursts.

“You filthy little...” He choked on the rest, staggering back.

Thin lines cut into the ground flashed between silver and black, and they fought so hard that it looked like the whole clearing could split . Devon and Diana felt unsteady next to me because of how strong it was.

Dominic was one of the first to see the launch.

“Killian, now!”

They both took off at the same time.

Dominic pushed in from the front, and you could see how angry he was. Killian came from the side, and his slash was aimed right at the wound that Black Moon had been guarding. Black Moon blocked one hit, then the next, but he was moving more slowly now.

Killian’s mouth curved meanly. “What happened? Thought you said we were losers.”

“Who’s this bigger loser now?”

Dominic hit him again before he could answer. “Guess he’s about to find out.”

My heart pounded against my ribs. This had to be the end. We had to end this here because of the twins, the light, the broken array, Dominic bleeding, and Killian fighting like his life depended on it.

Black Moon must have known this too.

His face changed in some way.

He knew he couldn’t win this way. He knew that one more clean hit could kill him. He looked at the array, then at the twins, then at me, and I hated how quickly he thought, even though he was hurt.

“Move!” Dominic roared.

Black Moon thrust both palms out, unleashing a powerful blast. I barely flung myself over Devon and Diana before it crashed into us. The crash took my breath away and sent mud, stone, and shattered magic flying everywhere.

When I looked up again, he had already faded back into shadow.

Blood stains his robe. His breathing appeared harsh. His body flashed on the edges, as if the darkness was trying to hold him together. The bastard smirked despite his injuries.

“You’ve won nothing,” he said, voice dripping hatred. “The array will activate on time. Tonight changed absolutely nothing.”

His gaze locked on the twins.

“I’ll be back for what’s mine and this time, nobody will stop me.”

And just like that, he disappeared.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​