"Please, Tristin. Your brother is in real danger." Chief Vance's voice sounded desperate as he trailed behind the imposing figure of Tristin Thornton.
I could hear them coming down the cemetery path toward where I was keeping Miles. My body felt like it was being torn apart from the inside. The dark energy I'd absorbed was fighting violently with my golden qi, two opposing forces refusing to coexist within my dantian.
"Control yourself, William." Tristin's voice dripped with contempt. "This Liam Knight is nobody. Just some upstart who needs to be taught the consequences of provoking the Thornton family."
I gritted my teeth against another wave of agony. Every cell in my body felt like it was being simultaneously frozen and burned. Sweat poured down my face as I struggled to regulate my breathing.
Miles whimpered from where he was still tied up. "Is that my brother? Tristin! I'm over here!"
