Kael's claws dug into Ori's shoulder, dragging the screaming boy toward the broken cage bars. Toward death. Blood welled between his fingers, dark and hot.
I moved without thinking.
My wolf surged forward, not just inside me but through me, a tidal wave of predatory instinct. I felt the shift beginning, felt my body trying to transform, bones preparing to crack and reshape. But I didn't need the full shift. Just her strength. Her speed. Her fury.
I slammed into Kael with enough force to knock him away from the cage. We hit the bone floor hard, sliding across the polished surface with a sound like grinding teeth.
Kael recovered fast, rolling to his feet with practiced grace. "You're making a mistake—"
I didn't let him finish. My fist caught his jaw, snapping his head to the side. Blood sprayed from his split lip, painting red droplets across the white bone floor.
"She can't even speak and she's winning." Corvus's voice held grudging respect. "Impressive."
