Chapter 20 · The Heavy Price

"Get away from me!" Lyra screamed, her voice cracking as she scrambled backward. Her boots skidded on the rusted metal grating, sending a shower of sparks into the dim light of the alley.

Kane didn't move. He couldn't. He was pinned to the spot by the sheer violence of the energy coursing through his veins. It wasn't just power anymore—it was a hunger. A void that screamed to be filled. His eyes weren't seeing the alley or Lyra’s terrified face; he was seeing the golden threads of the Hunter’s lingering essence, still vibrating in the air, begging to be consumed.

"Kane, look at me!" Lyra lunged forward, grabbing his forearm. Her skin was hot against his chilled flesh, a stark contrast that snapped him back to the present. "You're shaking. You're literally vibrating out of your skin!"

He looked down at her hand. He could feel her pulse—fast, erratic, like a trapped bird. For a split second, the predatory instinct flared. *Take it,* the voice in his head whispered. *Take her strength. Keep her safe by making her part of you.*

Kane ripped his arm away with a snarl.