Alaric pov.

I stalked the length of the shadow-drenched chamber, fists clenched until my knuckles burned white. Every breath scorched through me, sharp, uneven. I smashed my fist into the stone wall, relishing the crack that followed. The pain helped me focus.

"So this is it?" I growled, spinning toward Idra, fury curling in my chest like a beast let loose. "You're telling me this is how we end? This is the end of everything we've built?"

She reclined like the chaos meant ...