The weight of exhaustion drags you down, your body pinned beneath the crushing force of the veine’s power. The earth hums beneath you, sapping what little strength you have left. Tarin is too far—he won’t reach you in time.

I’m going to die.

Darkness slithers around you, curling like smoke, suffocating the light. A voice, smooth as silk and edged with danger, murmurs through the shadows.

“Hello, love.”

Your breath stutters. “Xaden?…”

Before you can blink, the shadows surge, laced with a deadly fury.

“Hands off my wife.”