Chapter

256

The clearing was eerily silent as Elyra and Dain prepared to leave the stone circle. The faint hum of the stones had faded, leaving only the distant rustle of leaves in the wind. But then, a low growl shattered the quiet.

Elyra turned, her heart lurching. Jason stood at the edge of the clearing, his posture predatory and his eyes gleaming faintly red in the dim light. His presence felt wrong-his movements unnaturally smooth, his aura radiating danger. "Did you think you could hide from me?" Jason sneered, his voice carrying an unnatural resonance.

Dain stepped forward, shielding Elyra with his body. "What are you doing here, Jason? You're out of your depth."

Jason's laugh was hollow and bitter. "Out of my depth? Look at you two. Pretending you're something special." His gaze zeroed in on Elyra, his voice softening to an almost possessive whisper. "You don't belong with him, Elyra. He's not what you think he is. I am what you need."

Dain's fists clenched, his orange eyes burning brighter. "Stay away from her."noveldrama

Jason smirked, baring unnaturally sharp teeth. "Make me."

The fight erupted in an instant. Jason lunged at Dain, claws slicing through the air. Dain met him head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that shook the ground. Elyra watched in horror as the two grappled, each blow landing with bone-crunching intensity.

Dain landed a brutal punch to Jason's jaw, sending him sprawling back, but Jason recovered with inhuman speed, slashing at Dain's shoulder. Blood sprayed across the stones as Dain staggered, growling in pain.

"You're weak," Jason spat, circling Dain like a predator stalking prey. "You can't protect her."

Elyra's pendant began to glow, the warmth spreading through her chest. She stepped forward, her voice steady despite her fear. "Jason, stop this! You're not yourself anymore."

Jason froze for a moment, his expression flickering between anger and desperation. But the red glow in his eyes intensified, and his lips curled into a snarl. "I'm more myself than ever."

As Jason moved to strike again, the light from Elyra's pendant flared brilliantly, bathing the clearing in silvery radiance. Jason recoiled, shielding his eyes as the light forced him back. "This isn't over," he growled, his voice echoing unnaturally as he disappeared into the shadows.

Elyra rushed to Dain's side, kneeling beside him as he clutched his wounded shoulder. Blood seeped between his fingers, but his fiery eyes remained fixed on the spot where Jason had vanished. "He's... not human anymore," Dain rasped, his voice thick with pain.

Elyra tore a strip of cloth from her shirt, pressing it to his wound. "Neither are we," she whispered, her hands trembling.

Dain's gaze softened as it met hers, the tension between them palpable. "You shouldn't have stepped in like that. What if he'd hurt you?"

"I couldn't let you fight him alone," Elyra replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade. Dain's hand brushed against hers, lingering for a heartbeat too long. Elyra's cheeks flushed as she pulled away, focusing on his wound. "Let's get you cleaned up," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

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