Moonlight In Chains (Trinity and Asher) novel Chapter 138

**The Day He Forgot He Hated Me by Evangeline Marrow**

**CHAPTER 138**

The earth erupted with a thunderous roar, as if the very ground itself was protesting against some ancient wrong. A jagged fissure tore through the soil, spilling forth a light that was no longer silver but an ominous black fire, laced with thin strands of crimson that writhed and twisted as though they possessed a will of their own. I felt the tremors beneath my feet, a deep, unsettling vibration that slithered up my legs, a primal warning that something was dreadfully amiss.

In that moment, time seemed to freeze. The air became thick with an oppressive pressure that made inhaling feel like a struggle. It was not merely magic; it was something far older, a force that had no place in our world anymore, echoing with a sense of forgotten dread.

Eryx was the first to act, moving with purpose to position himself protectively between me and the glowing chasm. His voice, though low and steady, resonated with an undercurrent of power that made the trees shudder around us. “Stay back. All of you.”

The fissure widened, revealing a darkness that crawled forth.

At first, it resembled smoke, dark tendrils entwining until they coalesced into a form. Long, deadly claws extended from a tall, imposing frame, and its eyes glowed like smoldering coals. This was no mere shadow; it was more substantial, more alive. The air around it shimmered with heat, and the stench of ash and decay invaded the clearing, a nauseating reminder of death.

“An Eclipse Revenant,” Eryx’s voice sliced through the tension, sharp and precise.

Arlo’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What the hell is that?” he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Eryx didn’t shift his gaze from the creature. “The first creations of the bloodline’s curse. My ancestors imprisoned them when they sealed the Eclipse realm.”

The revenant tilted its head, its gaze piercing as it studied us. Its mouth opened slowly, releasing a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the trees. Leaves trembled and fell, scattering like dying embers in the wind.

Asher stepped in front of me, his claws extended, ready for battle. “So, we kill it?” he questioned, a fierce determination in his eyes.

Eryx’s expression hardened. “If you can.”

Before anyone could react, the revenant lunged with a speed that defied belief. One moment it was still, and the next, it had barreled into Gage, sending him crashing across the clearing. He hit the ground hard, the impact forcing the air from his lungs in a desperate gasp.

“Asher!” I screamed, panic surging through me, but he was already in motion. In an instant, he transformed mid-stride, his wolf form a blur of fury and strength. He launched himself at the revenant’s throat, but when his claws made contact, sparks erupted, and the creature barely flinched.

“It’s feeding off the fracture!” Eryx shouted, urgency coloring his tone. “You can’t touch it directly!”

The revenant turned its gaze toward me, its eyes igniting with an intensity that suggested it recognized the source of the power that had awakened it.

I squeezed my eyes shut for the briefest moment, summoning my strength. The Eclipse mark on my skin flared to life, silver threads of light weaving through my arms like veins of living fire. When I opened my eyes again, the world around me sharpened—every sound, every pulse of energy, every heartbeat resonated with clarity. I could feel Asher’s heartbeat from across the clearing, a steady thrum anchoring me amidst the chaos.

“Asher, pull back!” I yelled, urgency lacing my voice.

He leaped away just as I unleashed a wave of light toward the revenant. The beam struck the creature in the chest, forcing it back a few steps. The light didn’t obliterate it, but it slowed its advance, smoke curling from its scorched skin.

Eryx’s voice regained its calm, though I could detect the strain lurking beneath the surface. “Good. Use the bloodline’s light, not its power. Light binds; power breaks.”

I nodded, focusing with renewed determination. The mark on my hand intensified, pulsating in sync with my heartbeat. My light expanded outward, creating a protective circle around the revenant. It hissed, its claws scraping against the radiant barrier as if testing for any sign of weakness.

Arlo dashed in from the side, expertly placing relics into the ground with swift, practiced motions. “These should amplify the light if we can hold it steady!” he called out, his voice steady despite the chaos.

“Do it,” I commanded, forcing the energy to surge stronger. My voice emerged hoarse, strained by the effort.

The relics began to glow, faintly at first, then brighter, intertwining with my power like sparks igniting a flame. The ground trembled once more, but this time, the energy shifted toward balance, as if the earth itself was recalling its heartbeat.

Then, Rafe emerged from the shadows of the trees.

He stepped into view, his eyes ablaze with Eclipse fire. “You’re trying to undo my work?” he spat, venom lacing his words. “You don’t get to take this from me.”

“Rafe, stop!” I shouted, desperation clawing at my throat. “You don’t even understand what you’ve done!”

He laughed, a cold, sharp sound that sent chills down my spine. “You think I care? This power was always meant to be mine. The bloodline rejected me, but I made it listen.”

Eryx advanced, his voice firm like tempered steel. “You made it bleed, Rafe. There’s a significant difference.”

Rafe’s smile faltered, replaced by a simmering anger. “You think you can intimidate me, old man?”

“Not intimidate you,” Eryx replied quietly, “but stop you.”

In a blur of motion, Eryx surged forward, faster than I had ever witnessed. His hand struck the ground, sending a shockwave of silver fire rippling through the clearing. It coiled around both Rafe and the revenant, ensnaring them within the luminous circle.

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