Lucius's POV.

The moment Raine took the attack for me, time seemed to freeze. A dark wave of energy surged through her, and I watched in horror as her body convulsed, her face contorting in pain. "Raine!" I cried, rushing to her side, panic clawing at my chest.

The figure in the shadows sneered, watching with amusement as I cradled her limp form. "You think you can save her? You're foolish."

Ignoring the taunts, I focused solely on Raine. "Stay with me, please," I pleaded, brushing my fingers against her cheek. She was burning up, her skin hot to the touch, yet her eyes were closed, and I felt a...