~Kaida Orion POV~
I could not take my eyes off Lupus's arm, the dark veins spreading from the wound looked like thin threads of ink, alive and slowly crawling under his skin. I reached for him, but my hand trembled.
"We'll fix this," I said, though my voice sounded too fragile to convince even myself.
Lupus smiled faintly, his eyes calm as if none of this frightened him. "I'm still here, my love, don't let the curse see your fear."
But I could see the pain in the tightness of his jaw, the way his breath caught when he shifted his arm. He was trying to be strong for me, for all of us.
The ink merchant stepped closer, his gaze sharp. "This is no ordinary wound, It's a tether and they're drawing strength from him as we speak."
"How do we cut it?" I demanded. "Tell me what to do."
The man hesitated, then whispered, "You don't cut it, you draw it out with something stronger than ink...a vow written in blood and fire."
