Page 287 of Interion

“There’s something inside her,” Zion exclaimed, pressing trembling hands to his forehead. He was pale, barely able to breathe. He could feel himself losing control—it was too much to process. Kyller had just escaped death, and now this. What else was waiting for them? “I shouldn’t have left her alone.”

Ambrose studied Kyller’s body, scanning every millimeter with his gift. He was just as frightened as Zion, but years of practice allowed him to stay rational. He knew his pupil’s body—if something was wrong, he’d find it.

People rushed past the doorway, and the commotion of nurses running and shouting caught the general’s attention.

“What happened in the hospital?” he asked, restless, searching for answers.

“The containment barrier we placed in the basement room was breached. The patient you brought in six months ago went into cardiac arrest,” he said, still searching Kyller’s body for clues. “We don’t know how it was broken, or how it happened while the man was dying, but apparently he didn’t cause any harm to anyone in the hospital.”

“No harm?” The general laughed nervously. “Then how do you explain what’s happening to her?”

“The patient died, Zion. He didn’t cause this.”

Kyller had warned Zion that the doctor was skeptical about most things, but he hadn’t expected him to be this stubborn. Ambrose was methodically palpating Kyller’s body from her waist to the top of her ribs—a maddening process. The general grew increasingly impatient. He felt like a territorial beast but couldn’t control the feeling surging through the bond.

“The good news is that all the minor wounds are closing,” Ambrose murmured, too focused to notice the feelings he was provoking in the general.

But the moment he reached Kyller’s collarbone, the doctor’s eyes went wide. Without thinking, he pulled the gown aside, exposing her right breast. In less than a second, the general’s hand seized his, squeezing hard enough to nearly break his wrist.

“Wait! I didn’t mean anything by it—there’s a mark,” Ambrose gasped. “Listen, Zion! I wasn’t trying anything—look for yourself.”

Still trembling, fighting to control his brutal instincts, he released the doctor and turned to his partner. Gently, he pulled the edge of the gown aside. A golden circle marked her breast—it looked like two wings fitting together, and inside it, energy danced with life. He remembered the mark. It was engraved in the black book.

“What kind of mark is this?”

“I’ve only seen this type of mark once. The patient who just died has the same symbol on his chest,” Ambrose said, taking a deep breath as he massaged his wrist.

Zion looked from Kyller to Ambrose, at a loss for words.

“Didn't cause any damage, did he?” Zion heard the bitterness in his own voice as he threw the doctor's words back at him. He regretted it instantly, knowing Ambrose was like family to his partner. Ashamed, he let his eyes convey the apology his words couldn't. The doctor met his gaze, seemed to understand, and nodded.

His thoughts drifted back to the mark. Zion had overheard Serguei and Kyller talking about it. The symbol had appeared once before—Rosnir had something similar on his back, and the black book displayed something identical on its cover. Wanting to see for himself, Zion stepped into the shadows and emerged in the basement room. The medical team was still there, looking detached as they disconnected the ventilation machines. He didn't even need to get close to the corpse on the bed to confirm what Ambrose had said. The golden circle was the same, like a brand seared by power, but unlike Kyller's mark, there was no energy on the man's skin—just a lifeless imprint.

He returned to the room, his head spinning while his phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it.

“You didn't find anything else about the patient?” Zion paced back and forth, unsure what to do. The phone kept ringing.

“No. We only know what you and your father already found out—that the mark appeared only once, on the warrior and healer Rosnir, and it's linked to a rare psychological illness.”

The phone grated on his nerves so badly that Zion snatched it up to hurl it against the wall, but he froze mid-swing when he saw the name on the screen. The immediate. That familiar ache mixed with rage surged through his chest, and he answered, confused by what this could mean.

“Of all the times we could have talked, this is the worst...”

She cut him off immediately.

“Shut up and listen to me!” Zion took a deep breath, cursing her under his breath, but Kaori's voice sounded urgent, so he listened. “I don't have time to explain, but you need to grab Kyller and get out of the hospital. Now.”

“And why the hell would I do that?” he snapped.

“If you don't leave immediately, you'll be trapped. Zafira and Natali are surrounding the hospital with a power-blocking barrier—they have half the energy that had built up in the millennial barrier. They're bringing iron shackles because Elitium gave the order to kill Kyller and take you prisoner. Once the barrier goes up, you'll lose your gift. Three squads are surrounding the block.”

Zion froze. Kill his partner? Had he heard that right?

“How do you know?” he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice. His heart cracked in two at the thought of distrusting his best friend, but what choice did he have? She had betrayed him.

“Just trust me—I don't have time to explain how I know!”

“Why...” Zion swallowed hard, feeling his throat tighten as if it might choke him. “Why did you betray me? Why betray me and then try to help me?”