The ground trembled beneath Aria's feet as Caleb collapsed, his body radiating a heat too pure—and too violent—to be natural. The wound in the sky pulsed in rhythm with his shallow breaths, bleeding light that painted the land in shades of crimson and silver. The fabric between realms thinned further, and for one horrifying moment, Aria swore she could hear whispers clawing through the tear—one of them unmistakably her own name.
"Caleb!" She dropped to her knees beside him, ignoring the scorch marks forming beneath his body. "Caleb, look at me. Stay with me."
His eyes fluttered open. Flames—silver and pale violet—danced within them, devouring the familiar green. "Aria… they're calling you. From… inside."
She grasped his face, feeling the burn on her palms but refusing to let go. "Don't you dare fade on me."
