Chapter 5

One week later, Samkiel arrives at the Vanderkais’ mansion to oversee seizure of their assets and transport for trial. In a remembered call, Gabriella teases out his growing feelings for Dianna and urges him to protect her. Back in the present, guilt gnaws at Samkiel as he finds Dianna’s jacket and a photo strip, hardening his resolve.

Downstairs, Samkiel declares all Vanderkai property confiscated and condemns Drake, Ethan, and Naomi for abetting Kaden and enabling Gabriella’s death. He orders their separation and transfer to Hadrameil for treason, kidnapping, and complicity in murder. Ethan, desperate to remain with Naomi, hints that Kaden—and others—fear the combined power of Samkiel and Dianna and worked to keep them apart.

As Samkiel rejects any deals, a predatory presence stills the forest. Dianna emerges, altered and terrible, holding Naomi’s severed head, which she burns to ash before Ethan. She taunts Samkiel, confirms Camilla’s usefulness after Dianna slaughtered her coven, and cruelly needles Logan about Neverra. When Samkiel argues for justice and order, Dianna insists only blood will balance blood and offers him a “boon”: leave now.

Samkiel refuses and pleads for another path. Dianna, citing his past assurances on Novas and Gabriella’s fate, demands he prove his help by killing Ethan and Drake. When he won’t, she distracts him, vanishes in green magic, and a horned, scaled beast rises to exhale a wave of fire toward the estate.

Samkiel ports Logan and the celestials away an instant before the mansion is engulfed. Fire cannot harm Samkiel, but his team is vulnerable. Amid the inferno, Logan warns Dianna is stronger than before and proposes a strategy, invoking “Shangulion,” as Samkiel turns back toward the blaze to confront what comes next.