The silence didn't last.
It broke.
Not with words—
But with a sound.
A sharp inhale.
Adrian staggered slightly, his hand pressing against his chest as if something inside him had just… shifted.
Eliana's eyes widened.
"Adrian?"
He didn't answer.
His breathing grew uneven. Faster. Rougher.
Wrong.
Sebastian's posture changed instantly.
Alert.
Focused.
Dangerous.
"It's starting," he said quietly.
"What is?!" Eliana's voice shook.
Adrian let out a strained laugh, but it came out broken.
"Guess… we're out of time."
His body jerked.
Eliana flinched.
"Adrian—what's happening to you?!"
He looked at her then.
Really looked at her.
And for a brief, terrifying moment—
His eyes weren't his.
Something darker flickered beneath.
"I told you…" he said hoarsely. "I didn't have a choice."
Then he doubled over.
A gasp tore from his throat as he dropped to both knees this time, fingers clawing at the floor.
Cracks spread beneath his hand.
Eliana rushed forward instinctively—
But Sebastian caught her arm.
"Don't."
"Let me go! He needs help!"
"He's losing control."
"I don't care—!"
"You will," Sebastian snapped, his voice sharp. "When he stops recognizing you."
That made her freeze.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly.
Behind them—
Adrian screamed.
Not in pain.
In rage.
The sound echoed through the corridor, inhuman and raw.
Eliana's heart nearly stopped.
"Sebastian…"
But this time—
There was something else in her voice.
Not just fear.
Trust.
His jaw tightened.
He saw it.
Felt it.
That thread between them pulsed again.
Stronger.
More demanding.
He turned back to Adrian slowly.
Calculating.
Deciding.
"If he completes the transformation like this," Sebastian said, "he won't come back from it."
Eliana swallowed hard.
"Then stop it."
A pause.
"That's not how it works."
"Then make it work!" she snapped, her voice breaking. "You said you decide who lives or dies—so decide!"
That hit something.
Deep.
Sebastian's gaze flickered to her.
And for the first time—
There was conflict in it.
Behind them, Adrian let out another choked sound.
His fingers dug into the marble as his body trembled violently.
"Sebastian…" Eliana whispered.
Not begging.
Not weak.
Just… certain.
He exhaled slowly.
Decision made.
"Stay behind me."
Before she could respond—
He stepped forward.
Power surged.
Not hidden this time.
Not controlled.
The air cracked with it.
Adrian's head snapped up.
And their eyes met.
Fully.
No more pretending.
No more holding back.
Predator to predator.
"Last chance," Sebastian said coldly. "Fight it."
Adrian's lips curled—
But it wasn't entirely him anymore.
"Make me."
A beat.
Then—
Sebastian moved.