Xander knelt beside Zara, his heart hammering in his chest. Her body lay still, her breathing shallow. The radiant light that had once surrounded her was gone, replaced by an eerie silence that clung to the air. It felt as though the entire forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
"Zara," Xander whispered again, his voice thick with desperation. He shook her gently, but there was no response. Panic clawed at him. Whatever power she had tapped into, it had left her drained—maybe even worse.
Behind him, Kael and Lyra had regrouped, their eyes wide with shock at the battle they'd just witnessed. The cabal had retreated into the shadows, leaving only Rhylen's unconscious form slumped against a tree. But Xander couldn't focus on any of that right now. All that mattered was Zara.
"She's not… dead, is she?" Kael asked, his voice uncertain.
"No," Xander said quickly, though doubt gnawed at him. "She's still breathing. But something's wrong. This… this wasn't supposed to happen."
Lyra knelt beside him, her face tight with concern. "That light she unleashed—it wasn't just magic. It felt… ancient, like something older than the world itself."
"Whatever it was," Kael muttered, casting a wary glance at Zara's still form, "it's left her completely drained. She might not wake up."
Xander's mind raced. He couldn't let that happen. Zara had saved them, had tapped into something deep and powerful to fight back against the cabal. But at what cost? And what was this new, terrifying force that had taken hold of her?
A flicker of movement in the distance caught Xander's eye. Rhylen was stirring, slowly rising to his feet, his face twisted with anger and pain. His cloak was torn, and his body trembled as he regained his balance, but the venom in his gaze was unmistakable.
"You think this is over?" Rhylen spat, his voice hoarse. "You've only delayed the inevitable."
Kael's hand went to his dagger, but Xander held up a hand to stop him. "Stay back," he said, his voice low. "I'll handle him."
Rhylen chuckled darkly, wiping blood from his mouth. "Handle me? You have no idea what you're dealing with, boy. The cabal's plans are far beyond your comprehension."
Xander stood slowly, his hands tightening into fists. "I don't care about your plans. All I care about is saving her."
Rhylen's eyes gleamed with cruel amusement. "Save her? You still don't understand, do you? Zara's power—it's not hers to control. It's been inside her all along, waiting to be awakened. But now that it's been unleashed, it will consume her, just as it will consume you."
Xander's blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?"
Rhylen smirked. "The bond you share with Zara… it's deeper than you think. She wasn't just meant to guide you, Xander. She was meant to be your anchor. Your power and hers are connected, intertwined in ways you can't even begin to fathom. But now, that connection is unraveling."
Xander's chest tightened. The mysterious woman's words echoed in his mind—She is the key to your power. He hadn't wanted to believe it, but now the truth was staring him in the face.
"What happens if she doesn't wake up?" Xander asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Rhylen's smile widened. "Then the darkness within you will rise. And when it does, not even the cabal will be able to stop it."
The words hit Xander like a punch to the gut. He had always known there was something dangerous about his power, something primal and uncontrollable. But now, it seemed that danger wasn't just within him—it was tied to Zara, to her very survival.
"She will wake up," Xander said, his voice steely with determination. "I'll make sure of it."
Rhylen raised an eyebrow. "And how do you plan to do that? She's already slipping away."
Xander's jaw clenched. He didn't have an answer. He didn't know how to save Zara, didn't know how to fix what was happening to her. But he couldn't give up. Not now. Not after everything they'd been through.
A low growl rumbled from the shadows, and Xander turned just in time to see a hulking figure emerge from the treeline. It was a massive, wolf-like creature with glowing red eyes, its fur bristling as it stalked toward them. Its snarls echoed through the clearing, sending shivers down Xander's spine.
"A shadowbeast," Lyra whispered, her voice filled with fear. "But how—"
"They're drawn to power," Rhylen said, his voice laced with satisfaction. "Especially power that's out of balance."
Xander's stomach twisted. The beast was coming for Zara.
"Get back!" Xander shouted, drawing his sword. His muscles tensed as the beast's glowing eyes locked onto him, hunger and malice radiating from its every step.
Kael and Lyra flanked him, their weapons ready, but Xander knew this wasn't going to be an easy fight. The shadowbeast was massive, and the air around it crackled with dark energy. It was more than just a mindless monster—it was a predator drawn to the chaos of his and Zara's power.
The creature lunged, its claws swiping at Xander with blinding speed. He barely managed to dodge the attack, rolling to the side as the beast's claws tore through the ground where he had stood.
Kael leapt in, slashing at the creature's side with his dagger, but the beast's thick hide deflected the blow. It snarled, turning on him with terrifying speed. Kael backpedaled, barely avoiding a deadly swipe of claws.
"Focus!" Xander shouted, his voice strained. "We need to bring it down fast!"
Lyra loosed an arrow, striking the beast in the shoulder, but it only seemed to enrage the creature. It howled, its red eyes glowing even brighter as it charged toward Xander.
Xander gritted his teeth, readying his sword for the impact. He wasn't strong enough to defeat the shadowbeast on his own—he knew that. But there had to be a way. There had to be something he could do.
And then, as the beast closed in, something deep within him stirred. A familiar darkness, the same darkness that had been growing since his transformation, roared to life.
The power to consume.
Xander's eyes widened as the realization hit him. The woman in the void had spoken of the price of power, but maybe… just maybe, he didn't need to devour Zara to save her.
The shadowbeast lunged at him, and in that split second, Xander made his decision. He opened himself to the darkness within, letting it flood his senses. Time seemed to slow as he met the creature's gaze, and a primal hunger rose up inside him.
As the beast's claws slashed toward him, Xander's hand shot out, gripping the creature by the throat. The beast thrashed, trying to break free, but Xander held on tight, his grip fueled by the dark energy coursing through him.
And then, he did the unthinkable. He opened his mouth, and the darkness within him surged forward, wrapping around the shadowbeast like tendrils of shadow. The creature howled in agony as its essence was torn from its body, pulled into Xander's own.
The process was brutal, painful, but Xander didn't stop. He devoured the beast's power, feeling it fuse with his own, strengthening him in ways he had never imagined.
When it was over, the shadowbeast's body crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Xander stood over it, his chest heaving, his hands trembling. The power inside him roared with newfound strength, but with it came a terrible realization.
He had crossed a line.
Lyra and Kael stared at him in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. Xander could feel the fear radiating off them, but he couldn't focus on that now. His gaze drifted to Zara, still unconscious on the ground.
"I'll save you," he whispered, his voice filled with resolve. "No matter what it takes."
But even as he spoke the words, a dark shadow loomed over his heart.