"Let her go!" Adrian roared across the battlefield in a shaky voice.

The commander chuckled, his huge figure glowing with victory. "Surrender, Champion," he said darkly. "Or she dies."

The battlefield was quiet, with only the far-off cries of injured soldiers and the eerie crackling of dark energy around Alannah breaking the stillness.

Adrian's chains hung limp at his sides, their fiery glow dimming as he stood frozen, his gaze locked on Alannah's terrified yet defiant eyes.

"Let her go," Adrian demanded, his voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within him. "I thought you were a man of who fights with honor. Face me like a warrior, not a coward."

The Shadow Court commander tilted his head, a cruel grin splitting his beastly face. "Honor?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "I discarded honor long ago, Champion. It has no place in a world ruled by power."

Adrian's jaw clenched, but he didn't move. His chains flickered weakly as the commander tightened the shadowy tendrils around Alannah, causing her to wince in pain.

The goddesses, still radiating their unleashed power, regrouped around Adrian. Their faces were a mix of anger and desperation.

"You can't seriously be considering this," Hera said, her golden spear glowing brighter as she stepped forward. "This isn't the way."

"Adrian, think!" Medea urged, her black flames curling protectively around her. "He'll kill you the moment you surrender."

Lilith smirked, her crimson whip snapping in the air. "Let's just burn him and be done with it. Who cares about his hostage tactics?"

Ava, her golden aura shimmering, crossed her arms. "For once, I agree with her," she said sharply. "Adrian, think of yourself for once. You're too important to throw away for—"

"Enough," Adrian interrupted, his voice cutting through their protests. He looked at them, his expression resolute. "This isn't about me."

"This isn't the way!" Hera repeated, stepping closer, her voice rising. "You've fought too hard to give up now. We've fought too hard."

Adrian's fiery chains sparked faintly as he turned his gaze back to the commander. "You win," he said finally in a low but firm voice. "Release her, and I'll come with you willingly."

The goddesses erupted in protest, their voices overlapping.

"No, Adrian!"

"This is suicide!"

"You can't trust him!"

But Adrian ignored them, his focus entirely on Alannah, whose wide eyes pleaded with him not to do it.

The commander's grin widened. "Good choice, Champion. I knew you'd see reason."

With a flick of his claw, the shadowy tendrils released Alannah, dropping her to the ground.

She stumbled but quickly regained her footing, her sword trembling in her hand as she looked at Adrian with a mixture of gratitude and devastation.

"Why did you do it?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Adrian didn't answer immediately, his gaze distant as the Shadow Court's forces began to retreat, their commanders calling them back. Zarpha lay in ruins, its defenders battered and broken, but alive.

"This isn't over," Adrian finally said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Not yet."

As the Shadow Court's soldiers began binding Adrian, the goddesses stepped forward, their expressions hard with defiance.

"We're going with him," Hera declared, her spear gleaming as she stood tall. "We made a deal, and we'll see it through."

The commander turned his glowing eyes to her, amusement flickering across his monstrous features. "Such loyalty," he mocked. "You'd follow your master into certain doom?"

"More than you'll ever understand," Medea replied coldly, her flames pulsing with barely restrained fury.

Adrian looked at them, his expression softening for the briefest moment. "You don't have to do this."

"Shut up, Adrian," Lilith said, her usual sarcasm tempered with a rare sincerity. "We're in this together. For better, for worse, husband. Remember?"

"Besides," Ava added, her voice almost teasing, "it's not like you can get rid of us. Contract, remember?"

Adrian managed a faint smile, nodding his gratitude as the Shadow Court soldiers bound the goddesses and Selene alongside him. The group was marched toward the remnants of the enemy forces, their body glowing faintly with dark magic used to suppress their powers.

The captives were loaded onto a shadow-infused transport, a floating platform of blackened steel that hummed ominously as it hovered above the ground.

Guards surrounded them, their weapons shining with a sinister energy.

Adrian sat at the edge of the platform, his hands bound but his mind racing. The goddesses and Selene sat around him, their expressions ranging from frustration to quiet determination.

"What's the plan, Adrian?" Hera asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah… we all know you didn't just allow them to capture you like some walking. You have something up your sleeves, so spill it/"

Adrian's gaze didn't waver. "You all are right. I'm letting them take us to their leader."

Lilith raised an eyebrow, her crimson eyes narrowing. "That's your plan? Just walk straight into the lion's den?"

"It's not just about walking in," Adrian replied, his voice steady. "We've been fighting their soldiers and commanders, but that's not enough. If we're going to end this war, we need to take out the head of the snake."

Medea crossed her arms, her flames flickering faintly despite the suppression magic. "You're betting a lot on the idea that they'll take us to their leader."

"They will," Adrian said confidently. "They want to break me. And they'll want their leader to do it personally."

"You're walking into a trap," Medea warned, her crimson eyes narrowing. "You know that, right?"

"Maybe," Adrian admitted. "But for this plan to work, it's a trap I need to spring."

The group fell silent, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Selene, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up, her voice calm but firm. "We'll follow your lead, Lord Adrian. But if this goes south..."

"It won't," Adrian interrupted, his gaze hard. "I won't let it."

Ava smirked faintly, leaning back against the cold metal of the transport. "Well, this should be interesting."

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