Darius's Pov

Matteo lunged at me without warning and I dodged to the right. His jaws snapped shut on empty air but he spun around quickly and came at me again. This time he caught my left front leg and bit down hard.

Pain shot up my leg and I yanked it free from his grip. Blood was already dripping onto the ground and I could feel the curse reacting to my injury. It wanted to come out and protect me but I could not let that happen. If the curse broke free during this fight everyone would see exactly how weak I had become.

I attacked Matteo head on...