The Creature's form contorted as the fabric of the shadow-space shook itself free from the constraints of its prison. When it released him and fell back on its haunches, Rowan rolled away from it, pushing himself up to one hand and knees with his broken arm dangling like a snapped twig toward the ground. He wanted to stand to face the Creature and whatever came next, but he couldn't.
As Rowan stared down at his ring, Wren's energy in the soul-seed finally gave out completely. The warmth that had been keeping him alive drained away in spurts, squeezed out of him little by little with every beat of his heart until there was nothing left but the bone-numbing chill of the poison to take its place.
