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Lucas
Talon’s words were cut off by a loud crack of thunder. The lights flickered and died. Crap, I was hoping not to lose—. The simultaneous blare of our phones caused me to jerk in surprise and forget my train of thought. I looked to Talon and Dom, who had quickly silenced the alarms.
“It says to take cover. Go to an inner room and stay—” Dom started but stopped abruptly and jumped to his feet.
The room suddenly grew cold, and the thunder rumbled like an approaching train—a train of doom. “Fuck!
“Tornado!”
The word was barely out of my mouth when chaos erupted in my living room. A red-skinned giant burst through the darkness out of nowhere. I didn't know who or what this terrifying creature was, but it was clearly after Dominic. Its skin, a fiery blend of bronzed gold and molten lava, seemed alive with an inner fire. The creature's hair was a fiery red-orange, moving as if flames danced within the strands. From its back sprouted two pristine white wings, broad and majestic, creating a stark contrast to its fiery demeanor. Its tail, sinuous and tipped with a blade-like structure, swished aggressively.
“Julian, you fucker!” Dominic shouted as he dodged a large spike tail.
It had a name, Julian, and Dominic knew him.
Talon roared, transforming instantaneously into the largest lion I’d ever seen. His mane was full and the color of coal, his pelt a mix of dark and light brown hues, glowing with an intensity that seemed to match the storm’s fury.
Talon’s roar filled the room again, a sound so primal and fierce that it momentarily distracted Julian. The giant demon turned its glowing amber eyes on Talon as if assessing the new threat. Despite the chaos, Dominic didn’t back down; he darted around the living room, narrowly evading another lashing from the deadly tail.
Dom’s agility and speed were a reminder that he was more than just human; his demonic heritage still lent him a formidable edge. If we survived this, I would need to remind him just how capable he still was.
“Lucas, stay back!” Dominic yelled over the noise, his voice urgent.
But I couldn’t just watch. Not when both of them were risking their lives. I may be a prey shifter but I was no coward. As Talon engaged, his massive lion form became a blur of speed and power, the epitome of a perfect predator. Despite my efforts to find an opening to help, Julian’s swift movements made it nearly impossible. His tail lashed out again, this time aiming for Dominic, who was cornered near the bookshelf.
Without thinking, I sprinted forward, my only thought to push Dominic out of harm’s way. Just as I reached him, I felt a searing pain across my back. Julian’s tail had found its mark but not on its intended target. The force of the blow sent me flying across the room, crashing into the wall.
The pain was immediate and overwhelming, a white-hot agony that blurred my vision. Sounds became muffled, the roars of Talon and the shouts from Dominic echoing as if from a distance. I tried to stay conscious tried to understand what was happening, but the room spun wildly around me.
“Lucas!” Dominic’s voice was the last thing I heard, tinged with panic and fear.
Then, everything went dark. The last sensation I felt was the cold floor against my cheek and the fading sounds of the battle raging around me. As consciousness slipped away, I was enveloped by the terrifying thought of not knowing what would happen next.