Between Fangs and Claws

Chapter 37: Blood and Bone

The forest was silent.

Too silent.

Even the birds had stopped singing, as if the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for the chaos to begin.

Kai crouched low behind a thick tree trunk, heart hammering against his ribs like a war drum. Adrian was a shadow beside him, every muscle coiled tight, ready to strike. His crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dark, a beacon of death and love.

"Remember the signal," Adrian whispered, voice like silk laced with razor wire.

Kai nodded, gripping the small dagger Adrian had pressed into his hand earlier. It was an old thing, silver edged, worn from countless battles, and humming with old magic. It was far too big for Kai’s smaller hand, but he'd be damned if he let that stop him.

He wasn’t weak.

Not anymore.

Through the trees, shadows bega