Lucien had changed.
Each day he wore the Sovereign Cleaver, his temper grew shorter, his silences longer. The blade whispered to him in dreams, tempting him with visions of ultimate dominance.
Aurelia confronted him in the moon garden.
"You're losing yourself," she said.
"No," he growled. "I'm finally becoming what I was meant to be."
Her magic flared, silver wings of light radiating behind her. "You weren't meant to be a monster."
He stepped back. For the first time, afraid of himself.