“Okay, okay okay, fuck. I’ll do it. Just… god, keep the zombie away from me!”

Ciel Karhillaz smiled and stepped back. He kept the flesh in his hand. Ueda pulled Herra to his feet.

“You hurt him again and I’ll let Ciel Karhillaz at you first before I kill you,” Francel said, a growl in his voice.

Herra snarled at them both.

Ueda dropped the magic from the orb around Alta and then from Herra’s control. Herra was muttering under his breath, but he raised his hands and sent a steady stream of light at Alta Presion.

Francel held his breath, but Ueda wasn’t panicking, so whatever Herra was doing was what he was supposed to do.

At first, the light did the same as it had before, just disappeared, but then after a few moments, it seeped into Alta’s body, under his skin. Alta gasped, back arching, and then he fell to the bed. Still. His back rose with a shuddering breath.

In the next moment, the leash was again around Herra’s neck.

“You touch him again, Hee,” Ueda said, “and loyalties be damned