Chapter 21

Lucy's POV The cave's deeper passages thrummed with ancient power. Every step I took echoed with possibilities, whispering of futures and pasts colliding. "Stay back," I told the others, feeling something massive stirring ahead. "Whatever's in there... I need to face it alone." "Lucy—" Felix started, but I cut him off. "No. Cassie's sacrifice got us this far. I won't risk anyone else." Tasha gripped my arm. "You don't have to prove anything." "This isn't about proving anything." I touched Adrian's necklace. "It's about being worthy of the power I'm asking for." Carrick nodded slowly. "She's right. The cave chooses how it tests us." I stepped through the narrow passage alone, emerging into a vast chamber that seemed impossible—it was too large to exist inside this mountain. Crystals lined the walls, each one reflecting different aspects of me and different possibilities. Then I saw it. The bat was enormous, its seven heads each larger than my entire body. Five twisted horns cr