Sacrifice
The Shadow surged, endless and suffocating. Its tendrils wrapped around Aradia, clawing into her chest, dragging at her fire. She screamed, her flames exploding outward, shaking mountains, burning sky.
Kael roared, his wolf massive, his claws ripping through shadow, but it was endless. Every strike only bought her another breath.
And then he saw it—the only way.
"Aradia," he whispered, his green eyes soft even as his body bled. "Let me anchor you."
Her eyes widened, her tears burning. "No. If you bind to me now—you'll die. Not just in this life. In every life."
He cupped her face, kissed her fiercely, desperately, his blood staining her lips. "Then I die with you. Forever. Better that than to live without you."
She sobbed, her fire blazing, her body trembling. "Kael—"
His wolf howled, his soul binding to hers, his life pouring into her fire.
And the Shadow screamed.