The forest was silent, save for the faint groans of the fallen Hunters. Smoke rose from scorched bark where shadows had eaten through trees. The air was thick, suffocating, as if Adrian's darkness lingered, refusing to let the night breathe again.
Elena's fingers trembled against her dress. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him. Adrian stood in the center of the destruction, shoulders squared, chest heaving, crimson gaze glowing faintly in the dark. He didn't look human. He didn't even look like the man who had held her only hours ago, whispering promises of protection.
He looked like the devil they claimed him to be.
"Elena." His voice was low, calm, almost gentle—yet it made her flinch.
He noticed. His jaw tightened. "You're afraid of me."
She swallowed hard, her throat dry. "I just… I've never seen you like that." Her eyes darted to the unconscious Hunters, sprawled like broken dolls across the clearing. "They're human, Adrian. You could have—"
"I didn't kill them," he cut her off sharply, as if that fact should absolve him. His shadows twitched restlessly, like they were still hungry. "If I wanted to, not one of them would be breathing right now."
"That's not the point!" Elena's voice cracked, louder than she intended. She hugged her arms around herself, trying to steady her shaking. "You scared me. Not them. Me."
The words hung heavy in the air. For once, Adrian had no ready retort, no darkly amused smile. His crimson gaze softened, but guilt flickered only faintly. He stepped toward her, slow, cautious, like she was a wounded bird that might fly away.
"Elena…" His hand lifted, fingers brushing the air near her cheek, but he didn't touch. "Everything I do—it's to keep you safe. To keep them from taking you from me."
Her breath hitched. Part of her wanted to lean into him, to believe the warmth in his voice, the tenderness that broke through his storm. But another part recoiled, remembering the way he had laughed as shadows devoured the Hunters' light.
"You sound just like them," she whispered.
Adrian froze. "What?"
Her eyes welled, but she held his gaze. "The Hunters. The demons. Everyone who wants something from me… they all say the same thing. That they're protecting me. That it's for my good. But it always costs someone their life."
Silence pressed between them. His hand fell to his side, curling into a fist.
A branch snapped in the distance. Both of them stiffened. Adrian's shadows surged instantly, ready to strike, but the sound faded—only a deer fleeing the chaos. Still, Elena noticed how quickly he became a weapon, how close he was to losing himself again.
She whispered, barely audible, "What if one day… you can't stop yourself?"
Adrian's head bowed slightly, his hair falling into his eyes. He didn't answer. Not because he didn't have words—but because he didn't have an answer she wanted to hear.
Finally, he spoke, voice rough. "If that day comes… then I'll make sure I fall before you ever do."
Her chest tightened painfully. She wanted to believe him, wanted to cling to the Adrian who held her like she was his salvation. But standing here, surrounded by broken bodies and bleeding shadows, she wasn't sure which side of him was real anymore.
The distant howl of a demon cut through the silence, dragging them back to reality. Adrian straightened, his expression hardening, hiding away the flicker of vulnerability.
"We need to move," he said. "The Order will send more. And the demons will smell blood."
Elena nodded faintly, though her heart was heavy. She followed him out of the clearing, her steps hesitant.
And though she walked behind him, one truth gnawed at her chest, sharp and cruel—
She was no longer sure if she feared the Hunters more… or the man she was falling in love with.