My head was pounding from the back-and-forth, the mental whiplash making it hard to keep up. "Stop!" I shouted, stepping between them—metaphorically, at least, since it was all in one body. "Just... stop. You can relax—I won't kill you. But if Drakar so much as harms an innocent person, I have no choice but to send you both back to your world."
Raphael's face lit up, relief flooding his features. He reached out, clutching my hand with a grip that was warm, almost desperate. "Really?!" His eyes searched mine, hope flickering there for the first time in what felt like forever.
"As long as Drakar promises not to use dark magic or hurt an innocent person," I repeated, narrowing my eyes at him, trying to pierce through to the demon lurking inside. It was unsettling, searching those familiar features for any sign of Drakar's influence, like trying to spot a shadow in a mirror.
Raphael—or was it Drakar?—flashed that sweet smile, the one that reached his eyes. "Yes, Remi."
