Look at you, all glitz, but hollow inside.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes so hard it’s a wonder they didn’t get stuck. The rest of the girls exchanged knowing glances, each of us used to Kael’s smug little digs. His voice rang through the stadium’s speakers, smooth and cocky, slicing right into the heart of the crowd—and right into my last nerve.

As if he could hear my silent reaction, Kael spun mid-step, a grin curling at the edge of his mouth before his gaze landed on me. His amber eyes locked with mine for just a second—long enough to send heat crawling over my skin—then he winked, turning back toward the audience.

I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I slipped my notebook from the pocket of my jacket, flipping to a blank page. If he thought he could diss Seraph Harmony in front of our fans without getting a lyrical slap back, he was dead wrong. I pressed my pen to paper, letting the rhythm of their insults fuel every word.

Perfect smiles hiding how fake you’ve tried.

Your angelic image? Just a PR disguise,

Plastic wings can’t fake your empty lies.

You sell salvation but can’t save your sound,

Caught in your echo chamber, going round and round.

Heaven’s has-beens, living off old light,

Tryna shine but you’re fading from the night.

We’re the fire, the rage you can’t contain,

Infernal Pulse—gonna break your chain.

Your songs are rehearsed, your hearts aren’t in it,

We’re raw and real; you’re counterfeit.

Your fans are sheep, blind in the glow,

But even they know it’s time for you to go.

You preach perfection, but it’s all for show,

We bring the chaos, the only way to grow.

Heaven’s has-beens, living off old light,

Tryna shine but you’re fading from the night.

We’re the fire, the rage you can’t contain,

Infernal Pulse—gonna break your chain.

You’re stuck in your halo, afraid to fall,

We own the night, we own it all.

So step aside, make way for the new,

Infernal Pulse—burning right through you.

Keep your sermons, keep your lies,

We’re the truth that never dies.

Watch your empire fade and bend,

We’re Infernal Pulse—the bitter end.

The final chord vibrated in the air, dark and defiant. I glanced at the other girls, their faces a mix of annoyance and determination. Without a word, I flipped my notebook around, showing them the lyrics I’d scribbled down.

Ariel’s eyes widened. “I don’t know how you do it, C. You’re the only person I know who can write a song in under ten minutes.”

The others chimed in with small smiles, shaking their heads in disbelief. I was just about to toss them a smug grin when he spoke again.

“Writing a song that fast just proves me right, you know.”

That voice. Smooth, deep, and irritating as hell.

We turned, already knowing exactly who it was. Sure enough, Kael stood there with his bandmates, Infernal Pulse fresh off the stage, dripping arrogance and sweat in equal measure. His shirt clung to him from the heat of the lights, his dark hair slightly damp, and I hated how unfairly good he looked after performing.

“No one can write a song that actually means something in that little amount of time,” he added, that cocky half-smile tugging at his mouth.

I gave him my best “fuck you” grin—one I reserved exclusively for Kael and his demon crew.

“I’m so sorry you aren’t creative enough or smart enough to write songs as fast as me,” I shot back sweetly, tilting my head like I was blessing him with patience.

Before he could respond, I gestured for the girls to follow me. We stepped onto the stage, the lights blazing hot on my skin. Cheers erupted from the audience, a tidal wave of sound that drowned out everything else.

I stepped to the mic, heart pounding with adrenaline, but my voice was steady.

“Well, hello out there to all our fans—new and old.” I let the crowd quiet just enough. “We have a little surprise for you tonight, because we can’t just let Infernal Pulse diss us without a response. They weren’t just dissing us—they were dissing you. And we’re not letting that slide. So…” I gave a wicked smile, “here’s our answer.”

The band struck the opening chords, and I took a deep breath, letting the music pour from me.

You howl from the shadows, but we light the way,

Your chaos is hollow; our truth won’t sway.

You claim you own the night, but you’re lost in the dark,

While we rise with the dawn, igniting the spark.

Your fire’s reckless, a flicker soon gone,

Our light’s eternal, forever strong.

Behind the veil of stars, our voices ascend,

Your darkness can’t break what we defend.

Fallen and fire, your rage and your pain—

But grace will prevail; we rise again.

You call us plastic, but your flames consume,

Burning bridges, chasing shadows to their doom.

Our wings don’t just glimmer—they shield and they heal,

Your wild, twisted fury? Nothing is real.

We sing of hope, a sacred embrace,

Your chaos fades; we hold this space.

Behind the veil of stars, our voices ascend,

Your darkness can’t break what we defend.

Fallen and fire, your rage and your pain—

But grace will prevail; we rise again.

You roar your defiance, but can’t touch the sky,

We’re the light you fear, the reason you cry.

So keep your shadows, your demons, and lies—

We’re Seraph Harmony, eternal and wise.

This is our kingdom, where angels sing true,

Infernal Pulse—your reign is through.

The final note rang out, crystal-clear and defiant. I held Kael’s gaze over the crowd, my chest heaving slightly from the effort. He stood at the edge of the stage, expression unreadable—but I didn’t miss the faint curve at the corner of his mouth.

Cheers erupted again, louder this time. It was the kind of roar that shook the floor beneath my boots. But then—

CRACK.

A deafening, bone-deep sound tore through the air.

The crowd fell silent instantly, a sea of faces turning to search for the source. But there was nothing to see—no broken speakers, no collapsing lights. The sound hadn’t come from something physical.

I felt it instead—like the world itself had just split at the seams.

I exchanged a wary glance with the girls, my pulse still drumming from the strange sound. When I looked toward Infernal Pulse, I found their expressions eerily similar—confusion laced with the same undercurrent of concern we were feeling.

For a moment, the shared look almost bridged the gap between us. Almost.

Pushing the thought aside, I turned back to the crowd, forcing my stage smile back into place.

“Thank you all so much for coming to see us tonight!” My voice rang strong despite the unease knotting in my chest. “We’ll be announcing the new album soon, so keep an eye out!”

The audience roared, their cheers swallowing any trace of the ominous crack they’d heard just moments before. It was almost like the sound had never happened. Almost.

We left the stage quickly, the momentary thrill of victory shadowed by unease. The second my boots hit backstage flooring, I spotted Infernal Pulse. And without hesitation, I marched straight toward them.

Kael was a few paces from his bandmates, phone pressed to his ear, head tilted slightly as if he were listening to something important. It didn’t slow me down.

“What the hell was that?” I demanded, my voice sharp enough to cut through the hum of post-performance chatter.

Before anyone could answer, the sharp chime of my ringtone sliced into the tension—Aunt Ira’s custom tone. My stomach sank.

Of course she was calling now.

I thought about ignoring her, but the mental image of her inevitable lecture was enough to make me grit my teeth and swipe to answer. I shot one last glare at Infernal Pulse before turning away.

“Hey, Aunt Ira, I know we’d talked about performing a different track tonight, but—”

“That doesn’t matter right now, Celeste.” Her voice was clipped, businesslike, which meant something was very wrong. “I need you and the others back here immediately. And bring Infernal Pulse with you.”

I froze mid-step. “What? Why?”

“This isn’t a conversation I’m having over the phone. Just get here.”

I opened my mouth to protest—there was no way in hell I was voluntarily inviting those smug bastards anywhere—but she hung up before I could get a single word out.

I let out a sharp breath, forcing down my irritation. I turned back to the girls at the same moment Kael pivoted toward Infernal Pulse.

“They want us back,” we said in unison, our tones equally reluctant.

“And,” I added tightly, “they want us to bring them.”

The mutual look of disdain between the bands could have powered the lights above us. Kael’s lips curled into that infuriating smirk as his gaze locked on mine.

“I guess we’re carpooling,” he said, his voice low, teasing, and entirely too pleased with himself.