Johanis' POVLily’s scream was still echoing when her body went limp against me.“Lily? Lily!”Her head lolled forward, curls falling over her face. She shivered violently, tiny whimpers slipping from her lips.Her eyes weren’t fully closed—but they weren’t open either. Just half-lidded, fogged, unfocused, rolling back like she was being pulled somewhere I couldn’t reach.“No—no, no, stay awake for me please.”I pressed my forehead to hers, trying to steady her breathing—trying to steady mine.The black mark on her shoulder pulsed.Once.Twice.Like a heartbeat that didn’t belong to her.A cold wave shot down her arm each time, making her small body jolt like it was being shocked. Her breathing hitched. Then she sagged again, slipping into a dizzy daze.“Lily. Please.”My voice cracked.She didn’t answer.The shadows were moving.Slowly at first—like they were sniffing, tasting the air—but then all at once, they surged toward us, drawn by whatever that mark was doing to her.I didn’t
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