The air shattered.
A deep pressure slammed into the village like an invisible wave, knocking dust from the rooftops and rattling the wards carved into stone.
"They've found us," Cyan's father said sharply.
Before anyone could ask how, a scream echoed from the far edge of the village. Red light flared briefly against the night sky.
Camil was close.
"Run," Cyan's mother ordered.
There was no time to argue.
Quinn grabbed Cyan's wrist. "Move—now!"
They sprinted through the narrow paths of the village as shadows stretched unnaturally long behind them. Cyan's heart pounded, not from exhaustion—but from instinct. He could feel the hunters now. Their presence burned against his senses.
Ravian landed ahead of them with a heavy thud, blocking the path, his crimson eyes glowing.
"Going somewhere?" he sneered.
"Turn back!" Selene's voice echoed from above.
Cyan froze—but Mason shoved him forward. "Don't stop!"
Darius appeared behind them, cutting off their retreat.
They were surrounded.
Camil stepped from the darkness, calm and smiling. "Running already, nephew?"
Cyan felt his blood boil.
"We won't let you take him," Quinn growled, her voice low and dangerous.
Camil laughed softly. "Werewolves protecting a vampire rebirth… how amusing."
Cyan's mother stepped forward, her hands glowing with dark-blue symbols. "Enough."
She slammed her palm into the ground.
The symbols across the village ignited at once.
"Cyan!" she shouted. "Focus on me!"
Cyan locked eyes with her.
"Your blood can bend space," she said urgently. "You can do this."
"I don't know how!" Cyan yelled.
"Yes, you do," she replied. "You've always known."
The world slowed.
The whispers returned—but this time, they guided him.
Open the path.
Cyan raised his trembling hands. His white hair lifted as energy surged around him. The air twisted, folding in on itself like a torn curtain.
A dark portal ripped open beside them, glowing with silver light.
Mason stared. "He actually did it…"
Camil's smile vanished. "No—STOP THEM!"
Ravian lunged—but Quinn shoved Cyan forward.
"Go!"
One by one, they leapt into the portal. The moment Cyan crossed through, the village vanished behind him.
The portal snapped shut.
Silence.
They collapsed onto cold ground beneath a starless sky, far from the village—far from Camil.
Cyan gasped for breath, his body shaking.
"You teleported us," Quinn said in awe.
Cyan looked at his hands, still faintly glowing.
"I didn't run," he whispered.
"I opened the way."
Somewhere else, Camil stood in the ruins of broken wards, his eyes burning with fury.
"Run while you can," he said quietly. "You can't escape what you are."
And deep within Cyan, something answered back.
Next time… I won't.