Sons of a devil-Chapter 55: blood in rain

Cain shouted, "Defensive circle—now!"

Eren pulled Selene behind him, brandishing dual daggers. "Seriously?! We just ate lunch!"

Leo muttered, "They've got terrible timing."

But even with the jokes, the fight came fast and hard.

Cain's sword clashed against claws. Sparks flew. Leo moved like a storm, flames licking his hands as he unleashed precise, searing strikes. Eren was the wind—fast, unpredictable, deadly.

Selene reached for her bow, loosing arrow after arrow with quiet precision.

Then—crack.

A shadow creature leapt from the trees, too fast, too close.

Selene turned too late.

Claws slashed across her side, dragging her down with a scream that split through the storm like lightning.

"Selene!" Cain shouted, his voice raw and panicked.

He was at her side in seconds, sword forgotten, catching her just before her head hit the ground.

Blood bloomed across her tunic. Too much. Too fast.

Selene's eyes fluttered. "Cain...?"

"I'm here," he said, hands trembling as he pressed down on the wound. "Stay with me. Don't you dare—"

Leo launched a blast of fire, incinerating the creature that had wounded her. Eren covered them, eyes wild. "We're clear—for now!"

Cain scooped Selene into his arms. Her blood soaked into his shirt, hot and sticky.

"Hold on, baby," he whispered. "You're not leaving me."

She smiled weakly. "Not planning to... You're too clingy."

Even half-conscious, she was still fighting.

Leo lit the path with flickers of flame. Eren scouted ahead, voice tight. "There's a healer's hut a mile from here—we passed it on the way in."

"Move," Cain growled.

They ran through the storm, mud sucking at their boots, branches whipping their faces. Cain never slowed, never stopped, not even when Selene's breathing faltered.

When they reached the hut—an old stone cottage tucked between trees—the door creaked open and a hunched healer let them in with wide eyes.

"She's been marked," the healer hissed, seeing the wound. "That's not just a slash—that's infernal corruption."

Cain slammed her down on the table. "Then fix it."

The healer muttered prayers and sprinkled herbs that steamed as they touched Selene's skin.

Selene groaned, her body arching in pain.

Cain held her hand. "It's okay. I've got you."

"You're crying," she whispered.

"No, I'm just leaking from the eyes. Don't be dramatic."

A breathy laugh escaped her lips. "Love you."

He froze. Her eyes fluttered closed.

Leo stepped beside him. "She's strong, Cain. She'll make it."

Eren leaned against the wall, wiping blood from his face. "And when she does, I swear I'm getting her iron armor or wrapping her in bubble wrap."

The healer turned, sweat on her brow. "She'll survive—but she needs rest. The wound will scar. The corruption is gone... barely."

Cain sat beside Selene through the night, holding her hand, whispering stories from their childhood. The fire crackled. The storm faded.

The next morning, Selene opened her eyes.

And Cain exhaled like it was the first real breath he'd taken since the night before.