~Samantha~
Killian's cough started small, just a little clearing of his throat on the drive back from Black Moon's residence.
By the time we pulled into the manor, it sounded like his lungs were trying to escape through his mouth.
I watched him stumble out of the car, one hand pressed to his ribs. "That's not a normal cough."
"I'm fine." He waved me off, but his hand came away from his mouth with purple smeared across his fingers again. He tried to hide it by shoving his hand in his pocket.
Too late. I'd already seen it.
"You're coughing up shadow corruption." I grabbed his arm before he could walk away. "That's the curse getting worse and you know it."
"Sam, leave it alone."
"No, I won’t. I can’t watch you die because of your stubbornness." I bit down on my already-healing palm, reopening the wound. "Give me your hand."
"I don't need to."
"I didn’t ask nicely and don’t make me say it again." My voice was dead serious.
