"Not on my watch." Kairo's words were little more than a growl, lost beneath the cavern's shriek, but Eli heard them.
His eyes blew wide.
It felt like time fractured into fragments—every heartbeat dragging slow and heavy, as if the world itself was waiting to see what Kairo would do.
Then Kairo moved.
His stance was perfect, obsidian blade angled high, aura coiled tight around him like a predator ready to strike. But instead of cutting forward—his free hand turned. His wrist twisted with deliberate intent.
And he cut.
The black edge of his blade tore across his own wrist. Flesh split open in one brutal stroke.
"K—!" Eli's breath locked, horror jolting through him sharper than the pain splitting his skull. His yellow eyes widened, glowing faint through the haze. "K…Kai—"
Scarlet burst free.
Hot. Violent. It sprayed across Eli's cheek, warm rivulets running down his pale skin.
The copper tang of blood filled the air, heavy and suffocating.
