CALEB POV
The air turned cold as a familiar voice spoke from the shadows between the trees. "Hello, little sister."
Everyone spun around as a person stepped into the moonlight. She looked exactly like Hope - same tiny size, same silver eyes, same innocent face. But where Hope's presence felt warm like sunshine, this version oozed cold like winter night.
"Shadow-Hope," I breathed, recognizing the dark twin we'd thought was gone forever.
The real Hope tensed in Lily's arms. "You're supposed to be destroyed. We defeated all the shadow creatures."
Shadow-Hope laughed, the sound like ice breaking. "I'm not just any shadow creature, sister. I'm part of you. As long as you exist, so do I."
"That's impossible," Lily said, holding Hope tighter. "You were banished when Hope chose love over power."
"Banished, not destroyed," Shadow-Hope amended. "I've been waiting, watching, learning. And now I have a proposal that even your noble family can't refuse."
