Chapter 297
Elyra crouched by the fire, her eyes scanning the flickering flames as she turned the pendant over in her hands. Dain had gone to gather supplies, leaving her alone for the first time in days. The forest was unusually quiet, the absence of its usual rustle and hum unsettling.
A twig snapped behind her. Elyra spun, her pulse spiking as Jason stepped into the clearing. His red eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, casting eerie shadows across his twisted features.
“Jason,” Elyra said, rising to her feet, her voice steady despite her racing heart.
He held up his hands as if in peace, though his stance radiated tension. “I don’t want to fight you,” he said, his tone softer than she’d expected. “I came to talk.”
Elyra didn’t lower her guard, her fingers brushing the edge of her blade. “You have nothing to say that I want to hear.”
Jason’s expression shifted, desperation flickering across his face. “I do. You don’t belong with him, Elyra. He doesn’t understand you—not like I do.” He stepped closer, his movements slow, calculated. “Come with me. I can keep you safe.”
Her heart twisted at the familiar note of vulnerability in his voice, a fleeting echo of the boy she used to know. “Jason, you don’t see what’s happening,” she said, her voice tinged with sadness. “You’re being used—by her. By Xytriana.”
Jason’s face darkened, anger replacing the softness. “Don’t talk about things you don’t understand. I don’t need her to tell me what I already know. You’re mine, Elyra.”
His words sent a chill down her spine, and she stepped back, her resolve hardening. “I’m not yours, Jason. I never was.”
Jason’s eyes flared, his jaw tightening. “He can’t protect you the way I can.”
Before Elyra could respond, a growl tore through the air. Dain appeared from the shadows, his orange eyes blazing with fury as he took in the scene. “Get away from her,” he said, his voice a low snarl.
Jason sneered, his monstrous form shifting as he lunged at Dain. The fight was vicious and raw, the clearing filling with the sounds of snarls and the clash of blows. Elyra watched in horror as the two fought, their strength shaking the ground beneath them.
Dain’s strikes landed with precision, his rage giving him an edge. Finally, Jason staggered back, clutching a wound that oozed dark blood. His eyes locked on Elyra one last time, a mix of fury and longing burning in their depths.
“This isn’t over,” he spat before retreating into the forest, his presence lingering like a shadow.
Elyra rushed to Dain’s side, her hands trembling as she touched his arm. “Are you okay?”
Dain’s breathing was heavy, his gaze fixed on the spot where Jason had vanished. “I will be. As long as you’re safe.”
