Kael's POVZander suddenly staggered, just slightly, barely noticeable, but I saw it, and Fenrir went completely still beside me. "Did you see that?""I did," I said, my eyebrows knitting.Zander tried to straighten, but his body didn't obey the same way anymore. His breathing was uneven. His stance was wrong in a way that had nothing to do with the fight."You—" I growled, but his voice faltered as real confusion flickered across his face before something else replaced it—panic.It hit him all at once, violent and uncontrolled.He doubled over, a strangled sound tearing from his throat, his hand flying to his chest like something inside him was trying to break free."The curse," Fenrir said quietly.Of course—Ayla's blood. Her choice. Her rejection.Zander gasped, eyes wide and terrified in a way he hadn't been through any of this, because he felt it now—what he did and what it was costing him."I marked her—" His voice cracked in desperation. "I claimed—""No."The word cut through
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