Yuri’s POV
The explosion’s force sent me flying backward, my breath ragged as the dust began to settle. My vision swam, my body aching from the battle, but my eyes found the scene ahead—Jared stood there, a chain wrapped tight around his neck, his body slack. Blood dripped from his mouth, his lifeless eyes frozen in surprise. And then there was Drake—partially shifted, his wings trembling, his horns chipped, his body barely holding together. He still gripped the chain that had ended Jared’s life, but he looked seconds away from collapsing.
"Drake." My voice came out in a rush as I ran toward him, but just as his grip slipped from the chain, his form shifted back—human, fragile, falling fast.
No.
I pushed past my exhaustion, my magic flaring as I caught him just before he hit the ground
