Feral Bonds: Claimed By Rogue Alpha Brothers-Chapter 663: Fighting The Poison (V)

Evaline: 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

A thick, black substance - like liquid shadow - pooled on the ground just inches away from us.

And it immediately moved, trying to spread, to escape. But the moment it touched the glowing lines of the hologram, it recoiled.

It was trapped here.

The runes flared brighter, holding it in place as it writhed, almost like it was alive. It kept trying to find a way out, trying to reach... anything.

I kept my healing power wrapped around Kyros to keep it from latching back on him. As for me, it recoiled from me just as badly as it did from the runes.

"Now!" Elder Morwen's voice rang out.

And before I could even react, a dagger flew into the space. Its blade glowed bright green, coated in something that shimmered with magic... and it struck the black mass directly.

The moment the sharp metal tip pierced it... the substance screamed. It wasn't really a sound, but more like a feeling.

A sharp, violent ripple of energy surged through the room. And then... it burned. The green light spread rapidly, consuming the black substance. Breaking it apart, piece by piece.

Until there was nothing left... just empty space and silence.

And just like that, it was over.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding as my power finally receded, pulling back from Kyros completely.

My focus shifted instantly to my friend. "Kyros," I whispered, tightening my hold on him.

He was unconscious.

But...

Alive.

His pumping heart was steady and strong under my palm, and my power told me he's safe now.

Relief crashed over me so hard it almost made me dizzy.

I quickly reached for his hand and let my power flow gently this time, healing the small cut on his fingertip. The skin closed within seconds, like nothing had ever happened.

I pulled him closer, wrapping my arms around him protectively as I held him.

"He's stable," Elder Penn said after a moment, her voice cautious but relieved.

"The energy is gone," Elder Morwen added, though she continued to observe carefully, as if expecting it to return.

I didn't move. Didn't let go. Not yet.

Outside the hologram, I could feel them - my mates and Rowan. Their worry, their tension, their helplessness. They were so close, and yet unable to reach us.

Few more seconds passed before Morwen finally announced, "The area is clear." And a moment later, the glowing lines around us flickered, and vanished as the barrier lifted.

And everything rushed in at once - footsteps, voices, movement. They were all coming toward us.

I barely had time to react before Rowan was beside me. "Eva-" he started, his voice breaking slightly.

I looked up at him, my vision slightly blurred with exhaustion and emotion. "He's okay," I whispered.

That was all he needed.

Rowan gently pulled Kyros from my arms, cradling him carefully. And the moment he did, my body gave out.

All the strength I had been holding onto vanished. The world tilted slightly, but before I could fall... strong and familiar arms wrapped around me from behind.

Kieran.

He dropped to his knees behind me, pulling me back against his chest as his arms tightened around me.

"I have got you," he murmured softly near my ear.

And for the first time since this began... I let myself stop holding on.

* * *

I didn't pass out.

But I came very, very close.

Every part of my body felt heavy, like I had been drained from the inside out. Even lifting my fingers felt like a task I didn't have the strength for anymore. So I didn't try. I just stayed where I was... curled into Oscar's arms on the couch, letting his warmth hold me together while everything else slowly settled.

At some point, Kieran had carefully passed me to him, making sure I was steady before stepping away to help Rowan.

I hadn't protested.

I didn't have the energy to.

Now, my cheek rested against Oscar's chest as I watched the room through half-lidded eyes.

Kyros was on the other couch, sleeping peacefully. That alone made my chest loosen just a little.

Rowan stood beside him, gently pulling a blanket over his body, his movements quieter than I had ever seen before. There was something fragile in the way he looked at Kyros, something protective and shaken at the same time.

I understood it... because I felt it too.

Outside, through the glass walls, I could faintly see Elder Morwen and Elder Penn speaking with River on the front porch. I could tell their conversation was serious even without hearing a single word.

Kieran had already finished cleaning. Actually not just cleaning... erasing.

Every trace of the hologram and the runes was gone. The floor looked untouched now, as if nothing had happened.

But we all knew better.

Time passed quietly, and about fifteen or so minutes later, Kieran returned from the kitchen with a bowl of freshly made soup.

"Eat," he said gently as he handed the bowl to me.

I obeyed.

The soup was warm, nourishing, and exactly what my body needed. I didn't realize how depleted I was until that first sip hit my system. Slowly, steadily, I finished it, feeling just a fraction of my strength return.

Just as I lowered the empty bowl, River stepped into the living room, his presence immediately grounding the room.

"Everyone should rest," he said in a calm but firm voice. "It's already five in the morning."

Five.

I hadn't even noticed.

"None of us have slept," he added.

He was right.

"Sera has prepared the guest rooms," he continued.

Almost on cue, Sera stepped into the living room.

She looked exactly as she always did - composed, elegant, perfectly put together as the head maid of the Thorne estate. It didn't matter that it was such an early hour or that she had just stepped out of bed in hurry. She carried herself with quiet efficiency, ready to take care of everything.

Rowan straightened slightly and said, "I'll stay with Kyros."

No one argued.

He stepped forward and carefully lifting Kyros into his arms as if he were made of glass.

Before I could even open my mouth-

"Don't."

Rowan's voice stopped me.

I blinked at him, and he met my gaze with a firm expression. "I'll take care of him," he said. "You don't need to worry about him until you have gotten enough rest."

I hesitated.

Everything in me wanted to go with them, to stay close, to make sure Kyros was truly okay.

But then Rowan's eyes shifted briefly - to my mates - and then back to me.

"There are others who need you more right now," he added quietly.

He was right.

So, I didn't argue and just nodded. "Okay," I whispered.

That was enough for him.

Without another word, Rowan turned and carried Kyros out of the living room, following Sera toward the guest rooms.

The moment they were gone, the room felt… different. It was quieter, heavier in a new way.

I didn't get much time to think about it because suddenly... I was moving.

Oscar stood up, lifting me effortlessly into his arms. And a soft gasp escaped me, more from surprise than anything else.

"I can walk," I murmured weakly.

"I know," he said simply. But he didn't put me down, and I didn't fight him.

Instead, I let myself relax against him, my arms loosely around his neck as he carried me toward the stairs.

Behind us, Kieran and River followed in silence.

There was too much to say, too much to process, a lot that we needed to talk about.

But not now. Not tonight.

Right now, all we needed… was rest.

And each other.