She knew the risk. And she did it anyway.
As they reached the forest's edge, a flock of birds scattered with a sudden, ear-piercing chirp. Their wings sliced through the silence, warning of something violent.
There, Shadow had Elaika ensnared in his whip, the black tendrils coiled around her like serpents. That whip, lethal enough to reduce a body to ash and banish it to the Shadow Realm, glowed faintly with menace.
Elaika's chest bled freely, the fresh wound marked with Shadow's claw.
"Coran! Brother, help me! There must be a misunderstanding." She screamed, desperation cracking her voice.
"Pity yourself, sister," Coran said bitterly, his words soaked in resentment.
Kai watched him with narrowed eyes, head slightly tilted. He was satisfied. Coran, as always, was reasonable, even when his heart was on the line.
"Shadow," Kai ordered, "bring her to the edge of the path she used to sneak into the castle."
