~Kaida Orion POV~
The healer chanted faster now, his fingers drawing circles in the air before pressing them hard against Biat's forehead. A faint golden light flickered beneath his palm, and I felt a sudden shift in the air, like pressure breaking.
Lupus's eyes snapped wide, and for one breath, I saw his true gaze... tired, pained, but his. "Kaida…" he rasped.
I leaned closer, desperate. "I'm here! Hold on to me."
But the victory was brief. The shadow surged again, roaring through him, and the golden light shattered like glass. Lupus's body went limp for a second... then shot upright with such force that Biat and I were thrown back. He stood now, but his stance was wrong, his head bowed slightly, and that smile… it wasn't human.
The healer stumbled to his feet, pale and shaking. "It's too strong if we stay, it will take all of us."
Biat stepped forward. "Then we take him and leave."
The shadow inside Lupus laughed. "You think I'll let you?"
