The corrupted throne exploded in a shower of dark crystal and malevolent energy. From its shattered remains, something vast and terrible began to emerge. Not the Shadow Emperor himself, but a projection of his consciousness—and it was enough to make reality itself recoil.

The being that materialized was beautiful and horrific in equal measure. Tall as a mountain, with wings that seemed to be cut from the fabric of night itself. His face could have belonged to an angel, if angels were forged ...