She sucked in a breath. "Cassius?!"
He blinked—once. Twice.
Then suddenly—
CRACK.
A pulse of amethyst lightning burst from his body. The fog convulsed violently, howling, ripping the air around them as though rejecting the moment of clarity.
Cassius staggered back, clutching his head.
"GRAAAHHH!!!"
The scream was monstrous. Half-human, half-something else entirely.
Kaelira backed away, instinct kicking in again. She stared as his body twitched—his veins glowing violet, like lightning trying to escape from under his skin.
His breathing was ragged. His muscles spasmed.
She saw it now—clear as day.
There was a battle happening inside him.
Not of swords or fists.
But of wills.
Two consciousnesses.
Cassius dropped to one knee, his fingers digging into the dirt. The mist swirled violently, forming a dome-like spiral around them both. Kaelira winced, shielding her eyes.
"Cassius!!" she shouted. "Fight it! You're still in there—I heard you say my name!"
His head jerked up.
