The corridor felt like it was closing in.
Eliana couldn't breathe.
She stood frozen between them—between something familiar… and something terrifyingly unknown.
Sebastian didn't look at her.
Not once.
His full attention was on Adrian.
Cold. Focused. Deadly.
"I said," Sebastian repeated, his voice low and dangerous, "let her go."
Adrian's grip on Eliana's wrist tightened slightly—not enough to hurt… but enough to remind her he wasn't weak.
Not anymore.
A soft breath left him. Almost a laugh.
"Still giving orders," he murmured.
His gaze flickered to Eliana.
"You shouldn't have opened the door."
A chill ran down her spine.
"I thought you were hurt—"
"I was," he cut in quietly.
Then his lips curved faintly.
"I still am."
Before she could react, Adrian pulled her slightly closer.
Eliana gasped.
"Adrian—"
"Careful," Sebastian warned.
And this time—
He moved.
So fast she barely saw it.
One second he was across the corridor…
The next, he was right in front of them.
His hand clamped around Adrian's wrist.
Not human.
Not gentle.
Power.
Pure, controlled power.
The air shifted instantly.
Cold.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Adrian's smile didn't fade.
If anything, it deepened.
"So it's true," Adrian said softly. "You've already marked her."
Eliana went still.
Her breath caught—not in confusion.
In recognition.
Her fingers curled slightly at her side as that familiar, invisible thread tightened between her and Sebastian.
That pull.
That claim.
Her gaze lifted slowly to him.
And this time—
There was no question in her eyes.
Only awareness.
Only tension.
Sebastian didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
His grip tightened.
"Release her," he said.
Adrian tilted his head.
"And if I don't?"
Silence.
Then—
Slowly—
Sebastian's eyes darkened.
Not fully.
But enough.
"Then I'll make you."
Adrian exhaled softly, almost like he'd been waiting for that.
"Go on, then."
Everything happened at once.
Sebastian twisted Adrian's wrist sharply, forcing his grip to break.
Eliana stumbled back with a gasp.
Adrian moved just as fast—slamming Sebastian against the wall with a force that cracked the marble behind him.
"Stop!" Eliana cried.
Neither of them listened.
They were no longer men.
They were predators.
Sebastian recovered instantly, shoving Adrian back just as hard.
"You reek of it," Sebastian said coldly.
Adrian wiped the blood from his lip.
"Of what?"
"Of transformation."
The word landed heavily.
Eliana's chest tightened.
Her eyes flew to Adrian.
"No…"
Adrian's gaze flickered to her—and for a brief moment—
She saw him.
"It wasn't supposed to happen like this," he said quietly.
"Then what happened?" she asked.
A pause.
Then—
"I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice," Sebastian replied flatly.
Adrian's eyes snapped to him.
"Not when it comes to your kind."
The temperature dropped.
Something shifted.
Sebastian stepped forward again.
Slow.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
"You speak as if you understand my kind," he said.
"I understand enough."
"Do you?"
Sebastian stopped right in front of him.
And then—
Something invisible snapped into place.
The air thickened.
Pressed.
Adrian's expression flickered.
He staggered.
Eliana gasped.
"Sebastian—stop!"
Adrian dropped to one knee, his hand hitting the floor hard as something unseen forced him down.
"What… did you do…" he muttered.
Sebastian crouched in front of him, completely unbothered.
"You walked into my palace," he said quietly, "after being turned into something you don't understand… and thought you could stand in front of me as an equal?"
Adrian tried to rise—
But couldn't.
Eliana's heart pounded.
"Sebastian, you're hurting him—"
"He's already been hurt," Sebastian said, glancing at her briefly.
For a split second—
His expression softened.
Then it was gone.
"You were bitten," Sebastian continued. "But not fully turned."
Eliana's breath caught.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Sebastian said, "he's in between."
Adrian let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
"Say it properly."
Sebastian's gaze darkened.
"Half."
Silence.
"You're dying," Sebastian added calmly.
Eliana's heart dropped.
"What?!"
"Every second you remain like this," Sebastian continued, "your body is fighting itself."
"No… there has to be a way—"
"There is."
They both looked at him.
"But you won't like it."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"Say it."
"You either complete the transformation…"
A pause.
"Or you die."
Silence.
"And let me guess," Adrian said slowly, "your kind decides who gets to live or die?"
Sebastian's lips curved faintly.
"No."
A beat.
"I do."
The weight of it settled heavily.
"Sebastian…" Eliana whispered. "Please…"
For the first time—
He hesitated.
Adrian saw it.
A slow, knowing smile appeared.
"That's new," he murmured.
Sebastian's expression darkened instantly.
"Careful."
"You marked her," Adrian continued. "You feel it, don't you? That pull."
Eliana went still again.
Not confused.
Not questioning.
She felt it.
That invisible connection tightening between them.
Her gaze lifted to Sebastian.
And this time—
She didn't look away.
Adrian let out a quiet laugh.
"Thought so."
The pressure vanished instantly.
Adrian sucked in a sharp breath, catching himself.
Sebastian had let him go.
Not out of mercy.
But control.
He stepped forward—
And in one swift motion—
Pulled Eliana behind him.
Shielding her.
Claiming her.
"Enough."
His voice was final.
Adrian rose slowly, unsteady but standing.
Their eyes locked again.
War.
Silent.
Inevitable.
And Eliana stood between them—
Realizing, deep down—
This wasn't over.
It was only just beginning.