Zeke's POV
Pain jolted me awake. Again. My body felt like it was being torn apart and put back together, over and over. I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange room, with stone walls and a small window that let in just enough light to see.
"He's awake," someone said. A girl with silver hair and eyes like midnight stepped into view. "How do you feel?"
"Like I died," I groaned, trying to sit up. "Did I?"
"Almost," she said, helping me. "I'm Lyra. I've been watching over you since Caius brought you here."
Memories flooded back. The fight. The burning power that had torn through me. The voice that had called to me from beyond... somewhere.
I looked down at my arms. Purple marks swirled under my skin, glowing weakly. They hadn't been there before.
"What's happening to me?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"We don't know," Lyra admitted. "Caius said you're... changing. Becoming something new."
