The air shimmered with heat and electricity, thick with smoke and the scent of ozone. My lungs burned with every inhale, but I didn't dare move away from Damian. His body thrashed beneath my hands, muscles twitching violently, glowing veins of light tracing under his skin. He wasn't fully human-not anymore-but something inside him was still holding on.

"Damian... stay with me," I whispered, clinging to him as though my grip alone could tether him to reality.

He let out a low, guttural sound ...