Chapter 28

twenty-eight

I sat in silence, the forest around me a dark, watchful presence. Leaning into Grayson's side, my body still thrum with residual energy, but exhaustion weighed heavily on my limbs. I took a deep breath, letting the scent of earth and pine fill my lungs, grounding myself in the present moment.

"I don't know what's going to happen when we face him," I admitted softly, breaking the silence. "But we're going to finish this. One way or another."

Grayson's hand found mine, his fingers wrapping around my hand in a firm, possessive grip. His gaze burned into mine, and I could feel the unspoken promise between us. We would face Cain together. And this time, we would win.

Time seemed to blur as we sat there, the minutes stretching into an indeterminate span of rest and healing. Slowly, my strength returned, my body mending itself at an inhuman pace. Grayson's wounds, too, seemed to be closing; the blood on his clothes dried and flaked away as new skin knitted itself together.

When I finally rose, Grayson followed, his movements fluid and predatory. I turned to him, my gaze steady and unflinching. "We go back," I said simply. "We finish this."

Grayson's eyes narrowed, a silent question hanging between us. Was I sure? Was I ready?

But I didn't waver. I flexed my fingers, feeling the darkness coil and twist beneath my skin, eager to be unleashed. "Let's make him regret ever thinking he could control us."

A flicker of understanding passed through his eyes, a glimmer of something close to a smile. He dipped his head in a curt nod, and together, we turned and headed back through the woods.

* * *

The industrial site loomed like a monstrous predator against the night sky, its jagged metal structures casting menacing shadows in the faint moonlight. A chill slithered down my spine as I stepped onto the cracked concrete, the acrid scent of decay and ancient blood thick in the air. I could almost feel the darkness wrapping around me, heavy and oppressive.

Grayson stayed close beside me, his body tense and coiled, ready for an explosion of violence. But there was a calmness to him now, a focus that mirrored my own as we prepared for the inevitable confrontation—round two against Cain.

Silently, we navigated the abandoned complex, each step deliberate, each sound amplified in the stillness around us. I was hyper-aware of every creak in the building, every whisper of wind that slithered through broken windows. My senses sharpened, extending beyond my physical form; I could feel the tremors in the air and an unsettling energy at the heart of this forsaken place.

And then I sensed him—Cain. The thought sank into my gut like a stone, the air around me thickening with his twisted presence.

There he stood on the factory floor, a dark silhouette framed by rusted machinery. His mask gleamed dully in the dim light; the way he carried himself radiated danger, but I noticed it too—a flicker of surprise. He hadn't expected us back so soon.

Taking a deep breath, I felt a surge of courage. "Surprised?" I taunted, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. Shadows spilled from my feet, swirling around me with a mind of their own.

Cain didn't respond with words. Instead, a low growl rumbled from his chest, and I couldn't help but shudder. It was a feral sound, primal and filled with a weird respect that sent a thrill through me. But there was no time to ponder it; we were here to finish this.

Grayson edged closer, muscles taut as a drawn bowstring, ready to explode into action at any moment. The tension in the air thickened into something palpable, my instincts screaming at me that this was it—the moment we had built towards.

And then, like lightning striking, Cain lunged.

He moved like a blur, faster than I could track. One second, he was standing still, the next he was upon us, his blade flashing in the dim light. Panic surged in my chest, but I was ready. I let my shadows explode from my body, wrapping around his arm, wrenching him back with all my might.

Cain roared, a sound so raw and furious it rattled my bones. He lashed out at me, but I twisted, my shadows obeying my command. I ducked beneath his outstretched arm, dancing around him, my heart racing in sync with the chaotic fight unfolding.

Grayson struck from the other side, fists moving like a whirlwind as he attacked with relentless fury. Cain found himself caught in the pincer movement, fighting off blows that came from both directions. I could see it now—uncertainty etched on his face for the first time.

A savage smile curved my lips. I was powerful. With one swift motion, I yanked the shadows around his legs, pulling him off balance, just like I'd done before.

"Thought you could break us?" I whispered, my voice low and menacing. My darkness surged within me, its energy coursing through my veins like fire. Cain's body thrashed against the restraints I had woven, but it was futile—my power was unrestrained now.

As he staggered, Grayson seized the moment, delivering a blow that sent Cain crashing into a pile of metal. I pressed my advantage, shadows tightening around his throat, his wrists, his ankles.

This was it. I was in control.

"This ends now," I hissed, feeling the intoxicating rush of power in every inch of my being. I tightened my grip, not relenting, not backing down.

Cain's struggles grew weaker, his body finally stilling against the firm embrace of my shadows. Silence enveloped us, a heavy blanket of stillness broken only by the sound of my own labored breathing and the distant creak of metal around us.

And then, I released him.

He crumpled to the ground, his mask askew, his body trembling beneath me. I towered over him, unyielding as the shadows danced around my feet.

"It's over," I declared, my voice steady. "You're not going to hurt anyone else."

Cain's chest heaved, producing a low, broken laugh that sent chills racing down my spine. He looked up at me, his eyes gleaming with a dark intensity that sent shockwaves of uncertainty through my heart.

But I didn't waver. With a single glance at Grayson, whose presence grounded me, we turned our backs on Cain's defeated form, leaving him to be trapped with the shadows he once sought to command. But I was their true mistress.

We had won.

We had survived .