Marin gasped as the alley they entered twisted unnaturally. Buildings seemed taller, darker; the air thickened with a metallic tang that made her throat burn. Shapes flitted at the edges of her vision—creatures moving in silence, vanishing before she could focus.
"Where are we?" she asked, voice trembling.
"The threshold," Averic replied. "A place between your world and mine. Here, the rules are different. Danger is constant. Trust is essential."
Marin shivered. Danger had always been abstract in her life, stories in books or warnings whispered by her mother. Now, it was real, tangible, and close enough to touch. And yet… even with the fear, she felt a strange thrill.
A movement caught her eye—a figure lurking in the mist, too fast, too silent. Averic's body tensed. "They've found us," he murmured. His hand tightened around hers, and despite the cold, Marin felt warmth—the kind that settled deep in her chest, frightening in its intensity.
"Who?" she asked, heart hammering.
"Hunters," he said grimly. "Vampires like me, but crueler, bound to nothing. They've been tracking you since last night. And they won't stop until they have what I protect."
Marin's breath caught. The tether between them pulled tighter, stronger, undeniable. Fear and something darker coiled together in her chest.
Averic's silver eyes softened, just slightly. "Do you trust me?" he asked, voice low, hypnotic.
"I… I think I do," she whispered, though her heart screamed with uncertainty.
"Good," he said, his lips barely brushing her hair. "Because from here on… your life is no longer your own."