“Sera!” No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening. She has to hold on. Gage can help. He’s her friend. He’ll help her, even though he isn’t supposed to, right? My monster uncurls inside of me, letting out a sharp snarl. Fuck it. I’ll make him help her. There’ll be at least one small tendril inside of him that wants to, and I’ll use every ounce of power inside of me to force him to do it if he refuses. He can kill me later, but at least Sera will be okay. I just have to keep her alive until then.