Evaline:
Kieran’s and Oscar’s hands were on before I even realized they had moved.
Their grips were firm but careful, each of them holding onto my arm as if trying to ground without actually pulling away from Kyros. My palm still rested against his chest, right over those dark, spreading veins. My power still humd beneath my skin... ready, waiting, desperate to act.
"Evaline," Kieran said, his voice low but urgent. "Maybe we should wait."
I turned my head toward him and the worry in his eyes hit instantly. He wasn’t just concerned about Kyros. He was worried about .
"Let Elder Morwen take a look first," he added, his grip tightening just slightly around my arm. "We don’t know what this could do to you."
Oscar didn’t say anything, but I could feel it through the bond - the sa fear, the sa hesitation, the sa desperate need to pull away from sothing that could possibly harm .
And I understood it.
I truly did.
They had seen what that darkness could do. They had seen what it had done to others. And now, they were watching willingly walk straight into it.
I slowly turned my head from Kieran to Oscar, eting his eyes next.
"I can’t," I said softly. My voice trembled, but the resolve behind it didn’t.
"I can’t just sit here and wait while he..." My words faltered, my throat tightening painfully.
I swallowed hard and forced myself to continue.
"Until Elder Morwen arrives... I’m going to try."
Both of them stiffened slightly.
"Eva-" Oscar started.
"I’m not strong enough to lose another loved one."
The words slipped out before either of them could stop - raw, broken, and barely held together.
My vision blurred again, but I didn’t look away this ti. I held their gazes, letting them see exactly what I was feeling.
"I’m not," I repeated, my voice quieter now, but heavier. "So I’m going to try... even if it doesn’t work... even if I fail..."
My fingers pressed slightly harder against Kyros’ chest.
"I have to try."
Silence followed - heavy, thick, and filled with everything I didn’t say out loud.
I felt it then.
River.
He hadn’t spoken, but his presence shifted slightly behind us. I didn’t need to look to know he wasn’t okay with this either. None of them were.
But they all heard . And they all felt it - my desperation and fear, and my refusal to stand by and do nothing.
A mont later, Oscar exhaled softly.
Then, without a word, he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
It lingered there for a second - warm, reassuring, and filled with silent support.
When he pulled back, his hands slipped away from my arms.
Kieran hesitated longer. His grip stayed for just a second more before he finally let go too, his jaw tightening as he stepped back.
None of them agreed with . But none of them stopped either. That alone ant everything.
I turned my attention slightly and looked at Rowan.
"Step back," I said quietly. "I don’t know what’s going to happen."
Rowan frowned imdiately. "Eva-"
"Please," I added, softer this ti.
He held my gaze for a mont before finally nodding, standing up and taking a few steps back though his eyes never left Kyros.
I took a slow breath, ready to start. But hen sothing struck . A thought... or a possibility... one that made my stomach drop.
"What if..." I started, my voice uncertain now.
All of them looked at .
I hesitated before finishing, "What if the darkness... tries to latch onto soone else?"
The words felt heavy as they left my mouth.
"What if forcing it out of Kyros just makes it jump to the nearest person?"
The room fell silent again. This ti, not a single one of them had an answer.
I looked between them, searching their faces.
Oscar.
Kieran.
River.
None of them spoke.
And that was enough to terrify .
Kieran reacted first.
He imdiately pulled out his phone, dialing without wasting another second.
"Elder Morwen," he said the mont the call connected. "We need your help."
I stayed still, my hand still resting over Kyros’ chest, my power barely contained as I listened Kieran quickly informing the elder witch about Kyros’ situation.
"Eva is trying to remove the energy from Kyros," Kieran continued. "But we need to know... if it’s forced out... is there a chance it could attach to soone else?"
There was a pause.
Then Elder Morwen’s voice ca through the phone, calm but serious. "There might actually be such a possibility."
My heart dropped.
"And that is exactly why she should not attempt this without proper containnt," she added firmly. "Tell her to wait. We are on our way."
I closed my eyes briefly.
Wait.
Just a little longer.
Kyros shifted slightly beneath my hold. "I... I don’t understand," he said quietly.
I opened my eyes and looked at him.
His gaze flickered between all of us, his confusion and unease growing stronger with every passing second.
"What is this?" he asked, his voice sounding strained now. "What are you all talking about?"
His hand hovered near his chest, near those veins, but he didn’t touch them as if so instinct inside him was already warning him not to.
"Eva... what’s happening to ?"
My throat tightened again.
I wanted to answer him, wanted to explain everything, but the words felt too heavy.
Too real.
So instead, I just shook my head slightly. "Just... trust for a little while," I said softly.
That was all I could give him.
And despite the confusion and unease... he nodded.
The next half an hour felt like an eternity. No one spoke much and the tension in the room remained thick, suffocating.
Kyros sat still, though I could see the unease growing in his posture, in the way his eyes occasionally drifted to his chest.
Rowan stood nearby, silent but alert.
Kieran paced once before forcing himself to stay still.
Oscar stayed close to , close enough that I could feel his presence anchoring even without touch.
And River... he stood at a distance, watching everything with an unreadable expression.
And then finally... they arrived.
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