Chapter 23 · The Hollow Cure - Chapter 23: Blood Betrayal

"Get away from me, Kael!" Lyra’s voice didn’t sound like her own. It was a guttural rasp, something wet and jagged tearing through her throat.

She slammed him back against the crystal wall with a force that cracked the stone. Her fingers, now tipped with translucent, razor-sharp shards, dug deep into his shoulders. Kael gasped, the air leaving his lungs in a sharp hiss as he felt the skin of his coat rip and the cold bite of crystal entering his flesh.

"Lyra, look at me," Kael choked out, his hands gripping her wrists. He could feel the vibration in her arms—not a heartbeat, but a high-frequency hum that rattled his own bones. "You’re slipping. Fight it."

"There is no 'me' left to fight!" she screamed. The sound sent a shockwave through the corridor, shattering the remaining glass vials on the nearby workbench. Her eyes were no longer blue; they were glowing voids of iridescent violet, swirling with a hunger that had nothing to do with humanity.

Kael didn't let go. He couldn't. If he did, she’d tear his throat out before he could even reach for his kit.