The portal back to Luna's realm tore open with desperate speed. We emerged directly into the throne room—and found it already under siege.

Shadow creatures poured through dimensional rifts like infection through wounds. These were not the simple darkness we had faced before, but sophisticated entities carrying fragments of cosmic power. Each one bore the mark of a shadow self, darkness given purpose and intelligence.

"Luna!" I shouted, scanning the chaos for my niece.

"Here!" Her voice ...