He tried to speak—but his body jerked.
A strangled sound left his lips as he doubled over, choking. The collar around his throat flared with flickering red light.
I ran to him, but the guards closed in.
“What the fuck did you do to him?” I screamed.
Mother’s voice was calm. “A simple enchantment. Nothing lethal. But quite persuasive.”
Leo coughed, lifting his head slowly. “It shocks me if I refuse,” he rasped, eyes burning. “They fitted it when they knocked me out.”
I looked from him to Finn—then up at the crowd, baying for blood.
“Choose,” Mother said. “The lion? Or the broken shifter.”
I stepped between them, shaking. “No.”
Another jolt hit Leo. He cried out, collapsing to his knees as spasms of pain rippled through him.
“Stop!” I screamed. “Please—stop!”
Mother raised an eyebrow. “Then do as you’re told.”
I met Leo’s eyes. His hands trembled as he pushed himself upright. Rage glinted in his eyes as he sneered at Mother.
“Elira,” he whispered. “It will be ok. If we have to fight... then let’s make it a show they’ll never forget.”
Tears burned behind my eyes. “I don’t want to fight you!”
“I know,” he said, standing fully now. “But we can do this. Together.”
Behind me, I heard Finn’s ragged breath.
Mother tilted the blade just a little deeper.
So I turned to the crowd. Tears streamed down my face, but I steeled myself.
Give them what they want. Or its over.
I raised my hands.
The shadows came like smoke through a broken window—slow at first, then faster, hungrier.
I would give them their fight.
But they had no idea what I was about to become.
He came at me fast, not with intent to kill—but with precision. A jab to my shoulder. A sweep to knock me down. I spun away, ducked, answered with a strike of shadow that glanced off his ribs.
It was all movement. All fire and instinct. But we weren’t trying to hurt. Not yet.
“Play it loud,” Leo murmured, ducking close. “Make it look real.”
“I hate this,” I whispered back.
He surged toward me again, roaring like a wild thing. All performance. All show. My blade met his with a crack of shadow against steel—sparks flying, shadows writhing. The crowd roared louder, drunk on bloodlust.
That’s when I saw him.
