The Council Chamber was cold the next morning. Cold and empty, except for Gideon — and the sword.

  He stood before the bck stone altar at the center of the chamber, Nyra’s hilt resting against his palm. The dark bde pulsed faintly beneath his fingertips, a steady rhythm that echoed through his bones.

  The twelve crimson-robed Councilors sat in a circle around him, their faces shrouded beneath deep hoods. Chancellor Aldric sat at the head of the circle, his hands steepled beneath his chin. His gaze sharpened as Gideon stepped forward.

  “You’ve chosen to keep the sword,” Aldric said. His voice was quiet — too quiet.

  Gideon’s smile was thin. “Was that ever in doubt?”

  Aldric’s gaze darkened. “Do you understand the consequences?”

  Nyra’s voice purred in his mind. They’re so worried. I like it.

  Gideon’s hand tightened on the hilt. “I understand enough.”

  Aldric’s expression hardened. “Then you will face the Trial.”

  Gideon’s eyes narrowed. “Trial?”

  Aldric’s gaze swept toward the dark archway at the back of the chamber. “The sword is a weapon of the Old Blood. If you wish to wield it openly, you must prove yourself in the Rite of Dominion.”

  “Let me guess,” Gideon said. “Survive or die?”

  A faint smile touched Aldric’s lips. “Not die. Submit.”

  Nyra’s presence sharpened. Oh, this should be fun.

  Gideon’s eyes darkened. “When?”

  Aldric stood. “Now.”

  The stone beneath Gideon’s feet trembled. A deep groan reverberated through the chamber as the bck archway began to pulse with dark energy. The shadows within the arch deepened — twisting and writhing into unnatural shapes. Cold air slithered through the room.

  A low growl echoed from beyond the arch.

  Gideon’s hand slid over the hilt of the sword. “What’s behind the door?”

  Aldric’s gaze sharpened. “Something that only bends to strength.”

  The archway fred with dark light — and then the creature emerged.

  A massive shape stepped through the portal — tall and twisted, with jagged bck armor covering its body. Pale silver light gleamed through the cracks in its carapace. Its face was a mask of bone and shadow, with burning red eyes beneath the ridges of its skull. Six cwed arms flexed at its sides. The air around it trembled with raw power.

  Gideon’s pulse quickened.

  Interesting, Nyra murmured.

  The creature’s gaze fixed on Gideon. It let out a low growl, and then it lunged.

  Gideon’s body moved before he could think. The sword came up in his hands, dark light fshing along the edge of the bde. He twisted, side-stepping the creature’s strike as the massive cws gouged deep furrows in the stone floor.

  The sword fred in his hand. Nyra’s presence sharpened.

  You’ll need more than instinct, she whispered.

  Gideon pivoted, driving the bde toward the creature’s side. The bck edge bit deep into the armor — but not deep enough. The creature’s backhand sent Gideon flying. He struck the ground hard, his breath leaving his chest in a sharp gasp.

  The creature stalked toward him, cws gleaming.

  Gideon’s grip tightened on the sword.

  Let me in, Nyra’s voice whispered.

  “No,” Gideon growled.

  You’ll die.

  “I’m not weak.”

  The creature’s cws fshed. Gideon rolled to the side — but the edge still caught him. Fire tore through his ribs as blood spttered across the stone floor. He staggered to his feet, his breath ragged.

  Let me in, Nyra whispered again. Her voice was smooth, dark, seductive. Trust me.

  Gideon’s gaze sharpened. His blood dripped down the edge of the sword. The dark metal pulsed beneath his hand — hungry.

  Submit.

  Gideon’s jaw tightened. His breath shuddered through his chest.

  Then he lowered his guard.

  The sword fred with dark fire. Nyra’s presence surged through his mind — a flood of cold and shadowed light. His vision darkened at the edges, and then sharpened into crystalline crity. His body moved — faster, smoother. The sword fshed.

  The creature lunged.

  Gideon stepped into the strike. His bde met the creature’s cws, and this time, the dark edge bit deep.

  Nyra’s power poured through him — sharp and cold and electric. His breath steadied. His muscles burned with raw strength.

  He twisted the bde — and dark fire exploded from the wound. The creature roared, stumbling back.

  Gideon followed. His hand blurred. The sword cleaved through the creature’s leg, severing it at the joint. Bck smoke erupted from the wound. The creature howled.

  “Yield,” Gideon said. His voice was cold. Ft.

  The creature lunged.

  Gideon’s sword fshed — and the creature’s head hit the floor.

  Silence filled the chamber.

  Gideon stood over the smoldering remains of the creature, the dark fire still burning along the edge of the sword. He exhaled slowly.

  Nyra’s voice hummed in his mind. Very good.

  Gideon’s gaze lifted toward Aldric.

  “Well?”

  Aldric’s expression was unreadable. “You passed.”

  Gideon smiled faintly. “Of course I did.”

  Aldric’s eyes narrowed. “Be careful, Gideon. The bde is a gift — but also a curse.”

  Gideon’s hand brushed the hilt. Nyra’s presence curled beneath his skin, dark and familiar.

  “We’ll see.”