Bride Of The Night

Chapter 25

### **Chapter 25: The Edge of Despair**

The aftermath of Morpheus's visit hung heavily in the air, like the tension in the seconds before a thunderstorm broke. Lana stood motionless in the center of the courtyard, still feeling the lingering effects of the encounter—the faint hum of power that crackled through her veins and the gnawing ache of uncertainty in her chest.

It wasn't the battle that had shaken her; it was the realization that no matter how much power she gained, no matter how much she fought back, Morpheus would always be there, lurking in the shadows. He was a force of nature, bound to her in ways she couldn't escape. And no matter how much she wanted to rewrite her story, he would always be a part of it.

*You are mine.*

The words echoed through her mind like a distant drumbeat, pounding at her resolve, trying to break it down.

"Are you alright?" Seraphine's voice pulled her from the spiral of her thoughts.

Lana turned slowly to face her, the weight of the moment settling heavily on her shoulders. Seraphine's face was a picture of calm, but there was something in her eyes—a flicker of concern—that Lana had never seen before.

"I don't know," Lana admitted, her voice hollow, carrying the weight of her exhaustion and growing doubt. "I feel... torn. The more I fight him, the stronger he seems to get. I don't know how long I can keep up this battle."

Seraphine walked up to her, closing the distance between them with quiet grace. Her fingers brushed against Lana's shoulder, a comforting gesture, though it did little to ease the turmoil in her heart.

"You have to understand," Seraphine said gently, her eyes searching Lana's. "Morpheus is no ordinary being. He's not just a king—he's a part of this world, an entity that has existed for eons. You can't just sever a bond with someone like that and expect everything to disappear."

Lana clenched her fists, frustration rising within her. "I tried to cut him out. I tried to be free of him. But every time I think I've moved on, he comes back, stronger, more insistent."

"I know," Seraphine said quietly, her voice soft but knowing. "I know it's hard. But you have power now. More than you realize. And you're not alone in this. I'm here. Ian and Emma are here. We will help you."

Lana swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes welling with a mixture of sorrow and something deeper—fear. Fear that maybe she wasn't as strong as everyone thought she was.

"I thought I was ready," Lana said, her voice cracking. "But what if I'm not? What if I'm just... pretending?"

Seraphine cupped her face gently, forcing her to look into her eyes. "You are stronger than you think. And it's okay to be afraid. But you can't let fear control you. Morpheus will use it against you if you let him."

Lana took a deep breath, trying to steady her shaking hands. She had come so far. She had learned to control the power that surged through her, to understand what she was now. But it wasn't just the physical battle that frightened her—it was the war within herself. The connection she still felt to Morpheus. The way his power still lingered within her, like a shadow that would never leave.

"I don't know if I can do this alone," she whispered, her voice barely audible in the quiet.

Seraphine's gaze softened, and she stepped closer, her presence a quiet reassurance. "You don't have to do it alone. We are here for you, Lana. But you have to be willing to fight for yourself. For your future. And that means embracing what you've become—not running from it."