POV: Araya
A week passes after the battle. Araya spends it caring for Lucian, helping him process what happened.
The boy wakes screaming every night, drenched in sweat. He remembers everything. Every kill. Every moment of rage consuming him beyond his control.
"I killed them," Lucian whispers one night, staring at his small hands. "I killed so many of them."
"You protected your family," Araya says gently. She holds his hands in hers. "What you did was frightening. But it saved our lives."
"I couldn't control it," Lucian says. "I tried. But it was too strong."
"That's why we train," Araya says. "Why we learn control. So that next time, you can choose how to use your power instead of letting it choose for you."
Lucian nods, but the fear in his silver eyes doesn't fade.
Ronan takes ov
