The heat of the Wolfsbane hit the impenetrable wall of my White Wolf's core, instantly meeting a surge of ancient, pure Lycan energy flowing from Darius.
Instead of melting my veins, the poison was forcibly crystallized.
I coughed once, a dry, harsh sound that cut through the music of the banquet. Then, I exhaled. A thin mist of silver vapor escaped my lips, carrying the unmistakable, metallic scent of burned Wolfsbane. The cold sweat evaporated. My vision sharpened into absolute, terrifying clarity.
Elara’s smile froze. Her eyes darted from my perfectly steady hands to the silver vapor dissipating in the air.
"Impossible," she whispered, taking another step back. "You should be..."
"Dead?" I finished for her, my voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling.
The music ground to a halt. The
