Chapter 21 · When Eli Turns

"Don't touch him."

Kane's voice cut through the med bay like a blade, and I froze with my hand six inches from Eli's shoulder.

My brother was strapped to the table. Black veins crawled up his throat, pulsing under the skin like something alive was burrowing through him. His eyes were shut, but his chest heaved like he'd been running for miles.

"He's burning up," I said. "I'm not leaving him like this."

"You go near him now, he'll rip your throat out before he knows it's you." Kane moved between me and the table, one hand raised. "Evie. Step back."

"No."

"That's not a request."

"And this isn't your call." I shoved past his arm and grabbed Eli's wrist.

His skin was furnace-hot. The black veins pulsed harder under my fingers, and his whole body jerked against the restraints.

"Evie—"

"Shut up, Kane." I leaned in close, pressing my palm flat against Eli's chest. His heartbeat hammered so fast it didn't sound human anymore. "Eli. It's me. You're safe. You hear me?"

Eli's eyes snapped open.

They were black.