Zauric's ragged face tilted, his voice low and even.
"Nonetheless… I know you will not cease. You will gnaw and scrape at me until your purpose is fulfilled. So I will bring silence. The royals will understand when I send your marks back to them."
His hook rose slowly, black iron glinting in the mountain's half-light. The point leveled at Ammy. "The stronger one first. The weaker is not worth my time. The woman is the real threat."
Ammy's lips curved into a sharp grin, venom in her eyes. But before she could retort, Kev's jaw flexed, his nostrils flaring.
"You wanna see a real threat? Aight, bet."
The dark markings around his eyes pulsed, then spread, crawling like living veins across his skin. They ignited, glowing molten orange, searing through the thin fabric of his shirt. His muscles surged, swelling with unnatural density, his limbs stretching longer, more jagged. With a tearing sound, the cloth split down his chest and arms as his body expanded into something monstrous.
