Aelia’s POV Kai stares Aviala dark in the eyes, voice quiet but sharp as he speaks. “I’m only going to ask you once again. Give me the antidote.” She tilts her head with little care. “What a way to ask. You are not in the position to demand, Kai. Not for her.” “I said, give me the antidote,” he repeats. I try to push myself up, but the pain pulls my body down. Jafser quickly catches me before I can fall freely. “Don’t move,” he whispers. “I’m fine,” I manage. “You’re not, Aelia. You are very far from fine. And I’m sorry for bringing you here. I truly believed she wanted to help.” “It’s okay, Jafser, I don’t blame you.” Aviala smirks at us. “Oh stop being so dramatic. She’ll live, provided Kai does what he’s supposed to.” She turns back to Kai. Kai tightens his jaw. “You really poisoned her?” She lifts her chin. “Yes. It was the only way to get her to stop whispering things into your ear.” “And the only way for me to choose you also, I guess.” He says. She shrugs. “Well, you’re

Kai’s POV“Kai, don’t go, please,” Aelia pleads as Jafser and I prepare to leave. I pressed my forehead against hers, looking into her eyes. “You have to trust me, Aelia. You know I’m doing this for you. Besides, you said we had to help the village before, didn’t you?”“That was then. That was before I heard about all the danger involved in it. That was before I could come in and fight beside you, protect you from anything that may attack. Now I can’t just sit here and watch you go alone.”“I won’t be alone. I have Jafser with me,” I say. “It’s not enough. The two of you— it’s just not enough,” she replies rather sharply that I have to wonder just how anxious she is to be able to gather such strength. I press her hand against my chest. “I assure you, Aelia, we are going to come back in one piece. Me and Jafser. We will return with the antidote, you will drink it and you will feel better.”“Kai,” she whispers. “It is the only option we have.” I stand and turn to Madam Javilla. “You pro

Riri’s POVI unlock the gates, releasing the monsters. Eight is enough to scatter the survivors guarding and cause chaos. I knew these things would come in handy someday. “Go on,” I whisper. “Release your venom into the world.”The creatures start marching out in a robotic manner, their black-veined bodies twitching with each step. One still wears a wedding ring. Another has half a child’s toy tight in its palms like she’s keeping a promise to protect it for someone. I stopped wondering what these things used to be months ago. Wondering what caused all these lives to be destroyed because it doesn’t do anything other than mess with your mind .I bang the cage with my sword. “Go faster!” They shriek and charge down the street. I smile and I hear the screams follow almost immediately. “Predictable.” I admit it’s bad but it’s the only way to get them to back off. Understandably everyone has become an enemy to the villagers. However, I don’t see those guys as being anything like that and

Kai’s POV I don’t for one second buy the story that she’s doing this to help us. I can sense she’s anxious about something so I know that she’s certainly looking for something. I just don’t know what yet.“Quit looking at me or one might think you are already falling for me,” she says, throwing me a look. Jafser laughs and replies before I can say something. “Liking you? Psshh. Hell no. He’s just not that kind of person. He already has eyes for Aelia.” I look at him as his face.She laughs. “Yeah, whatever. That’s why I told him to look away.” She throws her hands in the air, pausing her walk. “Well here we are.” I squint. “Where?”She looks at me. “The tunnel. The only other road we can follow and hope to escape the warden.” “Oh.”“And I must admit, I don’t really know this place well. Let’s just hope it gets us through.” I almost regret keeping her alive. Leading us to the chief’s house was the only reason I did and now she’s giving excuses of all sorts?We make our way into the

Kai’s POV“Hey, look at me, you have to fight it.” I yell, giving him an opportunity to take his teeth off because I don’t want to hurt the little boy. Jafser is ready to use his magic, but I stop him. “I have to do something, Kai. This is not the normal Tobin. He’s been bitten, he has turned. I have to do this.”“No. Don’t do it.” Tobin is still sinking his teeth into me, the strength is definitely nothing close to a human's. I wrap my fingers around his throat and finally manage to pull him off me, smashing him against the ground. A loud groan escapes me as I feel my body starting to shudder. Jafser crouches beside me. “Oh man, this is bad. This is really bad. He managed to bite you. Does that mean you’re going to turn?”Sera steps closer. She leans down and examines the wound, then stands silently. Jafser follows her. “What is it? Is he going to turn?” She nods once. “Unfortunately, the bite is deep. Venom has definitely gotten into his body. We must expect that he will turn so