The man didn't argue.
He dragged Riven toward the door, barely managing to pull him upright as Kaelen's attention locked fully on Lyra.
The door slammed shut and silence crashed down.
It was just them now.
Kaelen stood at the center of the room, his chest heaving as power radiated off him in waves that made Lyra's skin prickle painfully.
His eyes were no longer fully silver, they were burning.
Lyra's back hit the wall as she slid down slightly, shaking so hard she couldn't stop it.
"P-please," she whispered, tears spilling freely now. "I don't understand what's happening."
Kaelen froze.
The sound of her voice cut through the chaos like a blade through smoke.
For a split second, just one, the curse faltered.
And Kaelen realized, with horrifying clarity, that if he didn't get control now, he would destroy the very thing he was trying to protect.
Seeing the terror on her face was what finally broke through.
