"Ah," he murmurs when his gaze locks onto mine, lips curling slowly. "My mate.”

Then, softer. Crueler.

"Or should I say... ex-mate."

For a heartbeat, the world tilts. I can't speak. I can't think. All I can do is stare at the man who once stomped on my heart for my sister's sake.

Alec's hand tightens around mine, grounding me and anchoring me firmly in the present.

How ironic is it that both my former mates have hurt me? Funny how both times, Lola was the root cause.

Kaden notices his gaze sliding to Alec, as if he's assessing him.

"Well, well, looks like you moved on," he drawls. "I have to say though, I'm disappointed. I expected someone more powerful."

I say nothing. I don't trust my voice not to fracture.

Raven clears her throat, breaking the tension. "How exactly are we supposed to do this?" she asks. “I don't know how to lift a spell cast by a goddess."

"I do," I say, surprising even myself with how steady my voice sounds. "Don't worry."

Kaden laughs, the sound low and dark, echoing off stone walls.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Nyx?"

"Shut up."

I begin to chant.

"Have I told you I like your human form?"

I ignore him and continue. The words are ancient, older than language itself, heavy with power and rolling off my tongue as if they've always lived there. The air responds instantly, vibrating, tightening, and bending toward my voice.

Kaden tilts his head, watching me with something almost like curiosity.

“Tell me,” he says softly, dangerously, "can you really bear killing your own mate?"

Alec growls, the sound low and feral, vibrating through the stone walls like a warning tremor.

“I am her mate,” he says, voice edged with violence. "You stopped being anything to her the moment you chose Xena over Sadie and your child."

Kaden's smile sharpens, cruel and deliberate.

"Oh yes," he sneers softly. "The baby."

The word lands like a blade between my ribs still feel the pain of losing my baby Still feel her life drain while I couldn't do anything to save her

My mother's calm voice cuts through instantly. "He's provoking you, Nyx. Focus."

I force in a breath, then another.

I cling to the rhythm of the chant, to the ancient words anchoring me as power coils tighter around my bones.

"You know," Kaden says lightly, as if reminiscing over something fond, "I still love you."

My stomach twists.

"This is your last chance," he continues. "Join me, or you'll regret it."

Something inside me snaps.

"I said shut up!"

My mother steps forward, placing herself squarely between us and him, her presence swelling with power.

"I will not allow you to take another one of my daughters."

Kaden turns his gaze on her, all pretense gone now. His face twists with pure hatred.

"Once I'm out of here, you'll be the first to die," he snarls. “I'll rip out your heart and feed it to the dogs."

She doesn't even acknowledge him. Her eyes stay on me.

"Finish it,” she urges quietly, but there's steel beneath the calm. “Before Xena finds us."

Just as the words leave her lips, I

feel it. A cold, familiar presence slithers across my senses, sharp and invasive, like a blade dragged slowly across exposed skin.

My blood turns to ice... Xena.

Kaden feels it too. His lips stretch into a slow, vicious smile. "Too late."

His eyes blaze crimson and power detonates.

The air screams as energy erupts outward, violent and uncontrolled. The runes etched into the walls flare once, then shatter, splintering into nothing. The ground bucks beneath our feet as stone fractures like glass, the prison screaming as centuries of magic collapse in an instant.

Chains snap, the spell breaks and the cell implodes.

Kaden is right. It's already too late.

He's free.