CHAPTER 20: THE HUNT NEVER ENDS

Pain was the first thing Kieran registered. A deep, bone-deep ache that pulsed through his entire body. His ribs throbbed, his left arm refused to move, and the metallic taste of blood lingered on his tongue.

He blinked. His vision swam, the world unfocused. Where was he?

The last thing he remembered—the Lurker. The collapsing cavern. Then… nothing.

A shadow loomed over him.

“You took your time.”

Kieran groaned. Elias. Of course. The bastard was standing over him, arms crossed, watching like he was waiting to see if Kieran would drop dead.

“Where…” Kieran’s voice came out hoarse. “Where are we?”

Elias nudged a small vial toward him with his boot. “Safehouse. For now. Drink.”

Kieran struggled to push himself up, every muscle screaming in protest. His system flickered warnings:

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

[Energy Reserves: 3%]

[Critical Injuries Detected: Fractured Arm, Internal Bleeding, System Malfunction.]

Fucking fantastic.

He grabbed the vial with his good hand and downed it. The bitter liquid burned down his throat, warmth spreading through his chest as the pain dulled—not gone, but manageable.

Elias studied him for a long moment before finally speaking. “You killed the Lurker.”

Kieran exhaled sharply. “Yeah. I noticed.”

“You’re not dead.”

Kieran glared at him. “Brilliant observation.”

Elias smirked, but there was something else in his expression. Something calculating.

Kieran ignored the unease curling in his gut. “Why did you drop me down there?”

“To see if you’d live.” Elias leaned back against the wall. “Looks like you did.”

Kieran clenched his jaw. Always cryptic. Always vague. “And if I hadn’t?”

Elias shrugged. “Then you wouldn’t have been worth saving.”

Kieran’s fists tightened. Bastard.

But before he could fire back, Elias’s expression shifted—just slightly, but enough for Kieran to notice.

“There’s something else,” Kieran said, narrowing his eyes. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Elias was silent for a long moment. Then, finally—

“That Lurker wasn’t alone.”

Kieran’s stomach twisted. What?

Elias’s gaze darkened. “And its pack hunts.”

A distant, echoing click rang out in the tunnels beyond the safehouse.

More were coming.

And Kieran was in no shape to fight.