Sulfur-tainted wind howled through the observatory's shattered dome. Layne's silver brooch refracted moonlight into spiderweb patterns as he leaned against a collapsed brass telescope, reciting with anatomical precision: "Your skin is virgin parchment awaiting my eternal script..."
"—Stop." Alyssa kicked aside rotting star charts, scorpions scattering from her hem. "Last time in the cemetery you said my eyes resembled drowned moons, before that poisoned sapphires." She deliberately knocked over a silver candlestick, molten wax searing his cuff. "Got fresher metaphors?"
Layne's laughter startled ravens roosting on an armillary sphere. His fingers oozed asphalt-like fluid where the silver base burned him: "Impatient nightingale, hear this—"
As twelve cracks in the dome formed a wolf constellation, his voice acquired metallic vibrations: "With silver chains bind moonlight's ankles Measure covenants by fang's depth When thirteenth blood permeates star trails Caged wings shall kiss their iron..."
Alyssa's silver bracelet constricted, drawing blood. Moonflare erupted as a hatchling, shattering stained glass behind her—the window reflecting only her solitary figure in crimson moonlight.
"Charming venue." She ripped down velvet drapes, exposing walls nailed with covenantal parchments. Each bore different women's names, the freshest ink still wet as wolf-shaped wax seals devoured "Alyssa Shadowclaw."
Layne's pupils fractalized momentarily. "Romanticism demands ceremony." He stepped through flaming curtains, regenerating flesh under charred skin. "Shall we discuss dowry? Perhaps..."
The observatory quaked. Alyssa hurled the candlestick at a load-bearing column. Phoenix flames surged along sulfur trails, revealing translucent bat wings shimmering behind Layne. From burning contracts fluttered a yellowed medical file—Kane's mother's photo glaring under blood moon date.
"Like my gift?" Kane's arrow shattered the window, piercing the document. Alyssa's phoenix fire consumed the contract wall, revealing an intact silver ring in ashes—engraved "Lóthar Nachtkuss" matching dungeon chains.
Layne wiped black blood, exposing clockwork beneath scorched skin: "Spoiling surprises warrants punishment." His pendant's blood droplet sparked electricity on the ring. Levitating glass shards formed a star map showing a crucified woman—Alyssa's mirror image from three centuries past.
Moonflare condor screeched through the dome with file remnants. As the final glass fell, Alyssa saw Layne kissing her reflection's hand—mirror-him wearing Silverfang crown, mirror-her neck chained.