She had seen that look before.
In the training room.
In the Breeding Pits.
It was the look of a weapon that was about to go off.
And she was sitting right next to the firing pin.
The hunger was a living thing.
It was a cold, coiling snake in the pit of his stomach, its whispers a sweet, venomous poison in his mind.
Just a taste, little Reaper.
The power is right there. Waiting for you.
Take it. You've earned it.
Michael gritted his teeth, a low groan escaping his lips. His entire body trembled with the strain of holding back.
The gargoyle corpse seemed to call to him, a silent, siren song of easy strength and sweet relief.
He was so tired.
So empty.
It would be so easy to just… give in.
He started to push himself up, his muscles moving with a will that was not entirely his own.
"Michael."
The voice was a block of solid ice, dropped into the hot, chaotic storm of his mind.
He froze.
He turned his head slowly.
Chloe was watching him.
