The kiss stole the world from beneath me.
Raiden's lips were rough and desperate, his breath mingling with mine as though he needed me to breathe. The way his hands gripped my waist—firm, trembling, hungry—made my heart race and my body burn. Every inch of me leaned into him, chasing that impossible closeness, that fire I'd tried so hard to deny.
He groaned, low and raw, the sound vibrating through my chest. His hands slid down, over my hips, to my thighs, claiming, anchoring, wanting. When he lifted me into his lap, it wasn't gentle—it was instinct, primal, inevitable.
I gasped against his lips, heat flooding me as I felt how hard he was beneath me. The thin barrier of clothing did nothing to dull it; it only made it worse. I rolled my hips, seeking more, and the sharp breath he drew nearly undid me.
I moaned as my hands roamed over his sculpted chest and broad shoulders, feeling the play of muscles beneath my fingertips. His grip on me tightened, possessive and claiming, as he nipped at my skin, leaving a trail of fire down my neck. I tilted my head back, offering myself to him, wanting to feel every inch of his desire.
"Raiden…" The name left my mouth like a plea.
"F-fuck…" His voice came out rough, shredded by restraint, but the way his hips moved against mine betrayed him completely—seeking friction, chasing release. I rolled my hips in answer, slow and deliberate, and he shuddered, a low groan vibrating deep in his chest. His hands roamed lower, squeezing, teasing, driving me to the edge of reason. One fisted in my hair while the other cupped my ass, guiding me in a rhythm that set every nerve on fire. His lips trailed along my jaw, biting softly before moving lower—down my throat, where his breath scorched my skin and made my pulse stumble.
"Gods," I breathed. "You—"
He cut me off with another kiss, hungrier this time. My fingers tangled in his hair, my pulse a frantic drum. His hand came up, tracing the curve of my breast through the fabric, and I gasped, arching into him. He groaned—deep, ragged—like he was losing the fight with himself.
And then… something shifted.
His breath hitched. The grip on my hips faltered. The air between us snapped taut, and suddenly the warmth of him was gone.
Raiden froze, every muscle in his body going rigid before he gently pushed me back and stood. His chest heaved, eyes wide—haunted.
"Sorry," he said, voice rough and breaking. "I—I can't do this."
I stared at him, chest rising and falling in uneven bursts. "You can't be serious."
He said nothing. His mask slid into place again—cold, unreadable, infuriating.
"Gods, you're impossible!" I shouted, my voice shaking. "You can't kiss me like that—make me feel like that—just to rip it away!"
His gaze hardened. "You're a tool. That's all."
The words hit harder than a blade. My throat tightened. "You and I both know that's not fucking true," I snapped. "You feel this. You just can't admit it."
His jaw clenched—but before I could push further, the night itself seemed to hold its breath.
A sound cut through the trees—low, guttural, wrong.
The wind shifted, carrying the scent of rot.
Then came the whispering—soft, wet, like air through broken reeds.
Every instinct in me screamed move.
"Raiden…" I whispered.
He turned, eyes flashing blue in the dim light. "Get ready."
The shadows moved first. They rippled at the edge of the clearing, black smoke pooling low to the ground—and then they rose. Twisted shapes stumbled forward, skeletal limbs jerking in unnatural rhythm. Skin hung in torn strips. Where they stepped, the grass blackened, curling into ash.
"What the hell—"
Raiden didn't let me finish. His lightning flared, blinding blue and wild. "Go!"
"What about you?!"
"I'll hold them off," he barked, already stepping forward.
"Raiden—"
"Go, little thief." His voice softened just enough to break me.
I hesitated for a heartbeat too long—and then I ran.
Wings flared wide, the night air cutting sharp against my face as I launched toward camp. "Wake up!" I shouted, my voice cracking through the trees.
Revik and Muir were on their feet instantly.
"What in the hells—" Muir started.
"No time!" I panted. "Raiden—he's under attack!"
We turned together—and froze.
The clearing below was chaos. Raiden stood alone in the center, lightning surging around him like a storm given flesh. Every strike tore through the creatures, scattering them into dust—but for each one that fell, more crawled out of the darkness. The ground itself seemed to bleed shadow.
"Shit," Revik muttered.
Then we moved.
Muir's hands shot forward, shards of ice spiraling through the air. They hit their targets dead-on, impaling three of the things—but the bodies twitched, still writhing. I didn't think; I shifted, wings bursting free as I dove, unleashing a torrent of fire that scorched the earth and reduced half the horde to ash.
Revik hit the ground beside Raiden, blades flashing in twin arcs of silver. Sparks and ash filled the air.
But it wasn't enough.
For every creature we killed, two more appeared—rising from the same inky mist that now spread like liquid night across the ground. The corpses we'd already destroyed began to twist, reform, flesh knitting itself back together.
"Oh, hells no," Muir hissed.
"Not again," I breathed.
Raiden's eyes flashed—pure lightning. "We're leaving. Now."
"No argument here!" Revik shouted, cutting down another before it reached him.
I turned to take off—and something cold latched onto my ankle.
The mist. It crawled up my leg like living tar, burning cold.
I screamed, thrashing, flames erupting around me—but they did nothing.
"LYRA!" Raiden's roar split the air.
A flash of blue light—lightning arced past me, striking the ground. The darkness recoiled. Raiden was there in a heartbeat, grabbing my wrist and hauling me upright. His hand was scorching hot against my skin.
"Move!"
I didn't hesitate.
Muir shifted first, his sapphire wings slicing through the smoke as he launched upward. I followed, my own wings beating hard, fighting the drag of the cold. Raiden shifted mid-run, his massive wings unfurling in a storm of electricity. Revik grabbed onto his forearm, and together they surged skyward.
The air crackled around us as we climbed, the wind tearing through our hair and scales.
Below—
The world died.
The forest blackened in seconds. The river turned to tar. The earth itself split open, swallowing light and life whole.
I dared one last look down.
The land was gone.