Cob

hroat. I fumbled for the lamp switch on the nightsta

, and the scream tore from

t coiled on the plush carpet and draped over the armchair in the corner. Scales gli

tumbling backward until my back hit the wall. I reached for the

heavy wood with my fists. "Genesis, you

pounded again, my knuckles screaming in prot

e of the door. "Alya, you're disturbing th

her.

ce cracking with hysteria. "You si

. "Fear is a blockage of energy. You must confront it to release it

ymore, only desperate, animal sounds of ter

of hope, sharp and painful, pierced through my panic. He

s voice was heavy wit

ainst the door. "It's Genesis! The room... she fi

to help. Her aura is so clouded by grief and anger. I tho

e!" I shrieked. "I'm te

oft, sinister whisper of movement on the carpet. I held my breath,

old and distant, filtered thro

nce. Genesis believes this is necessary for

. The air left my

ered, my voice

ice gaining a chilling conviction. "But her intui

the pr

terrifying silence of th

d Genesis. I heard their foot

me. He was leav

my legs giving out, and curled into a tight ball on the floor. I was sobbing, but n

oiled near my leg, its presence a cold weight in the air

harp pressure bloom on

zzy. My last coherent thought was of Jason. Of the man who h

ndoned me to my

wing of the house. My head was pounding

the bed, scrolling through his p

ral. "The doctor said it was non-venom

y throat raw. "You

. "Don't be dramatic, Alya. I knew you weren't in

nd something. Genesis is going to be a permanent part of my life. Of our live

thing new forming in my chest. It wasn't love. It wa

t. But first, I