A massive shadow loomed in the doorway, its shape distorted by the haze.
The figure ducked, stepping through the shattered frame, and the air in the room seemed to shift, growing heavier. All she couldmake out were broad shoulders, thick arms, and the glint of something metallic hanging at the man’s hip.
It wasn’t Rell.
The breath caught in Elora’s throat as the haze cleared, revealing Fane’s towering frame.
“No…” The words slipped from her lips.How did he find me?
“There you are,” he said, with a guttural deep voice that barely sounded human.
Elora scrambled to her feet, her back pressing hard against the wall. Her chest heaved with shallow breaths, her mind screaming for her to move, to act, but her legs felt rooted to the floor.
Fane stepped closer, each movement unhurried, his boots crunching on the shattered remains of the door. His hand moved to his hip, brushing over the leather coil that hung there. The golden shimmer of its enchantment flickered faintly in the dim light.
Elora’s hands trembled at her sides. Her fingers brushed the ring on her finger, the faint hum of its dormant power a reminder of what she could do—if she had the courage to try.
“You’ve given me quite the hunt,” Fane said, taking another step forward. His shadow loomed larger now, swallowing the small space of the room. “But this? This is where it ends.”
He didn’t waste a moment, snapping the enchanted cord forward with deadly precision.
Elora twisted sharply to the side, narrowly dodging the whip-like lash. Relief flickered for an instant but it was fleeting. The cord seemed alive, twisting midair like a serpent, its glowing length zeroing in on her wrists.
“No!” she gasped, stumbling backward.
The cord struck, coiling tightly around her wrists. The slack vanished instantly as it drew taut, burning against her skin with a searing heat that made her muscles twitch involuntarily. Elora screamed as Fane gave a sharp yank, dragging her forward like a predator reeling in its catch.
Her feet slipped over the broken boards, splinters biting into her palms as she fell to her knees. The jagged edges of the shattered door cut into her legs, but the pain barely registered.
“Get up,” Fane growled, his massive hand jerking the cord again, pulling her closer.
Elora gritted her teeth, panic and fury warring within her. The hum of the ring on her finger grew louder, and she felt the faint crackle of electricity surge through her hands. Without thinking, she focused on it, willing it to act.
Do it.
The shock hit her like a lightning bolt, searing through her nerves. She screamed as the charge coursed through her, the pain blinding.
Her nails elongated into curved claws, gleaming wickedly. Her teeth ached, sharp canines pushing against her lips. The dim room brightened as her vision sharpened, every shadow gaining definition, every movement painfully clear.
Fane hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he watched her transformation. His grip on the cord faltered for the briefest moment when her slitted pupils settled on his face.
“So that’s why they want you so badly,” he muttered.
Elora snarled, baring her fangs at him.
Fane’s hesitation turned into a mocking grin, his grip tightening on the cord. “Here, kitty kitty.”
Her fury ignited, Elora let her body go slack, letting him drag her closer. She waited.
As his hand reached for her, she moved.
Ducking low, she slipped under his outstretched arm and lashed out with her claws, raking them across his side.
Fane grunted in pain, stumbling slightly as her claws tore through the thick leather of his armor. Blood welled from the gouges, staining his side, but he recovered quickly. His large frame twisted toward her with surprising speed, his arm swinging in a wide arc.
Elora darted away, moving with a flexibility that felt almost alien. She slashed again, her claws carving fresh marks into his armor, each strike met with a guttural growl of frustration.
The cramped room worked against him. Fane’s size made every swing of his arm slow, while Elora darted like a cat, her speed and newfound senses keeping her one step ahead.
