Golden light blasted outward, throwing Lira into the wall. The force knocked the breath from her lungs, vision blurring. She forced herself up—
—and froze.
Yuri and the creature stood locked together in the center of the hall, shadows spiraling around them. The creature's hand was buried in Yuri's chest—not piercing flesh, but sinking through like smoke through smoke.
And Yuri's hand was buried in the creature's core.
Neither moved.
Lira reached for her blade, heart hammering. "Yuri—"
He didn't respond.
The creature's voice vibrated through the corridor, no longer shouting.
A whisper.
A promise.
"Return."
And then the hall split open with a sound like the sky tearing in half.
