"You're too late!" Lucian's voice boomed through the cavern, sharp and triumphant. He stood at the edge of the glowing portal, his hands raised as the runes carved into the stone flared with a sickly green light. The air crackled, heavy with the stench of dark magic. "This is mine now, Draven. You've got nothing left to stop me."
Kaelen staggered to his feet, blood dripping from the gash in his side. His breaths came in shallow gasps, but his eyes burned with defiance. "Like hell I don't," he rasped, clutching his wound. "You're not walking out of here with that power."
Ariana grabbed his arm, her fingers trembling. "Kaelen, you can barely stand! Let me handle this!"
"No chance," he snapped, shaking her off. "He's not your fight. Stay back."
Lucian laughed, a harsh sound that bounced off the cavern walls. "Listen to her, Kaelen. She's got more sense than you. You're a dead man walking—look at you, bleeding out like a stuck pig."
"Shut your mouth," Kaelen growled, taking a shaky step forward. His shirt was soaked red, and every movement looked like it cost him more than he had left to give. But he kept going, his fists clenched.
Ariana's heart pounded as she darted after him. "Kaelen, stop! You're going to kill yourself!"
"I said stay back!" he roared, his voice cracking with desperation. He turned just enough to meet her eyes, and the raw fear in his gaze hit her like a punch. "Please, Ariana. I can't lose you too."
She froze, her throat tightening. "And I can't lose you," she whispered, but he was already moving again, closing the distance to Lucian.
Lucian smirked, lowering his hands as the portal's light pulsed brighter. "Touching. But it's over. This portal's mine, and once I've got its power, your little clan's finished. You're finished."
Kaelen lunged, faster than Ariana thought possible. He tackled Lucian, slamming him into the stone floor. The impact shook the cavern, dust raining from the ceiling. Lucian grunted, struggling under Kaelen's weight, but he managed to drive a knee into Kaelen's side—right into the wound.
Kaelen hissed in pain, his grip faltering. Lucian shoved him off, rolling to his feet with a snarl. "You're weak, Draven. Always have been."
"Keep talking," Kaelen spat, forcing himself up. Blood pooled beneath him, but he didn't back down. "I'll shut you up for good."
Ariana's stomach twisted as she watched them circle each other. She couldn't just stand there—she had to do something. Her eyes darted to the portal, its glow now blinding. The runes pulsed in rhythm, like a heartbeat, and she remembered what the Elder had said: The portal feeds on intent. Disrupt it, and it collapses.
"Kaelen!" she shouted, dodging around the edge of the fight. "The runes! We need to break them!"
He glanced at her, his face pale and slick with sweat. "You sure?"
"Yes!" she yelled, grabbing a jagged rock from the floor. "Trust me!"
Lucian's head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing. "Don't you dare," he hissed, lunging for her. But Kaelen intercepted, grabbing Lucian's arm and twisting it behind his back.
"Go!" Kaelen shouted, wrestling Lucian down. "Do it now!"
Ariana sprinted to the portal, her pulse racing. She slammed the rock into the nearest rune, and a sharp crack split the air. The green light flickered, dimming for a split second. "It's working!" she called, hitting another one. Chips of stone flew, and the portal's hum turned into a low, angry whine.
Lucian roared, breaking free from Kaelen's hold. He shoved Kaelen hard, sending him crashing into the wall. "You're ruining everything!" he bellowed, charging at Ariana.
She swung the rock at him, but he caught her wrist, twisting it until she dropped it with a cry. "Stupid girl," he snarled, his face inches from hers. "You think you can stop me?"
"Let her go!" Kaelen's voice was a guttural roar as he tackled Lucian again, dragging him away from her. They hit the ground in a tangle of limbs, fists flying. Kaelen landed a solid punch to Lucian's jaw, but Lucian retaliated with a vicious elbow to Kaelen's throat.
Ariana scrambled for the rock, her hands shaking. She smashed another rune, then another. The portal's light sputtered, the whine rising to a piercing shriek. "Kaelen, it's closing! Hurry!"
Kaelen pinned Lucian beneath him, his breathing ragged. "Stay down," he growled, slamming Lucian's head into the floor. Lucian groaned, his struggles weakening, but he still managed a bloody grin.
"You'll die before I do," Lucian rasped, his voice dripping with venom.
"Maybe," Kaelen said, standing unsteadily. "But you're not getting this." He stumbled toward Ariana, his hand outstretched. "Finish it."
She nodded, tears stinging her eyes as she raised the rock again. The final rune shattered under her blow, and the portal erupted in a blinding flash. A wave of energy knocked her back, her ears ringing as the light collapsed in on itself. The cavern shook, rocks tumbling from the ceiling, and then—silence.
Ariana coughed, pushing herself up. The portal was gone, leaving only a charred circle of stone. She turned, her heart lurching. "Kaelen?"
He was on his knees, one hand pressed to his side, the other braced against the floor. Blood soaked the ground beneath him, and his head hung low. "Did it… work?" he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
"Yes," she said, rushing to him. She dropped beside him, her hands hovering over his wound. "It's closed. You did it."
He managed a weak chuckle, his eyes fluttering. "We did it."
"Kaelen, stay with me," she pleaded, pressing her hands to his chest. His shirt was warm and wet with blood, and his skin felt too cold. "You're hurt bad. We need to get you out of here."
He shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Not sure… I'm making it that far."
"Don't say that!" she snapped, her voice breaking. "You're not dying on me, you hear? Not after all this."
Lucian groaned from across the cavern, stirring faintly. Ariana shot him a glare, then turned back to Kaelen. "Come on, lean on me. We're getting out."
Kaelen nodded weakly, letting her pull his arm over her shoulders. He was heavy, his weight dragging her down, but she gritted her teeth and started moving. Every step was agony—for him, she could tell, and for her, watching him fade.
"You're stubborn as hell," he muttered, his head lolling against her shoulder.
"Learned it from you," she shot back, her voice thick with unshed tears. She glanced at Lucian, still sprawled and dazed. "What about him?"
"Leave him," Kaelen said, his tone hard despite his weakness. "He's done."
They made it halfway to the cavern's entrance before Kaelen's legs gave out. He sank to the ground, pulling Ariana down with him. "Sorry," he breathed, his hand slipping from her grip. "Think I'm… tapped out."
"No, no, no," she said, cradling his face. His eyes were half-closed, his breaths shallow. "Kaelen, look at me. You're not quitting now. You promised me."
"Didn't promise… I'd make it," he said, his voice fading. "Just promised… I'd get you here."
"Stop it!" she yelled, shaking him. "You're not leaving me. I need you, damn it!"
His lips twitched, almost a smile. "Love you… too."
"Kaelen!" she screamed as his eyes closed, his body going limp in her arms. She shook him again, her hands slick with his blood. "Wake up! Please!"
Footsteps crunched behind her, slow and deliberate. She turned, her vision blurred with tears, to see the Elder Werewolf stepping from the shadows. His weathered face was grim, his silver eyes fixed on Kaelen.
"Is he…?" Ariana choked out, unable to finish.
The Elder knelt beside them, pressing a hand to Kaelen's chest. "Not yet," he said, his voice low and steady. "But he's close. The curse took its toll."
"Help him," she begged, her voice raw. "Please. I'll do anything."
The Elder met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "There's a way. But it comes with a price."
"What price?" she demanded, clutching Kaelen tighter. "Tell me!"
He stood, his shadow looming over them. "His life for yours. Or yours for his. The balance must hold."
Ariana's breath caught, her mind reeling. She looked down at Kaelen, his face pale and still, then back at the Elder. "What does that even mean? What do I have to do?"