Page 63 of Claimed By Flame

Cassian wasn’t stupid.

He knew what it meant when fire felt likefate.

They reached the pass before dusk. The cliffside narrowed into a winding stone throat, veins of fire glowing faintly beneath it—like the land itself remembered its purpose. The entrance to the final temple loomed beyond.

Cassian stopped walking.

Every part of him screamed not to.

But some part of him—the part that already knew how this ended—stood still.

He looked back once more.

She hadn’t even realized he’d stopped.

Gods, she was beautiful. Even in armor. Even in blood and shadow. Especiallythen.

“Let me go first,” he said, his voice low.

She paused, turning. Her brow furrowed. “We’re not splitting up.”

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Not for long. I’ll clear the way.”

Seraphine frowned, stepping toward him, her instincts crackling like Whitefire behind her eyes. “Cassian?—”

But he was already moving.

He couldn’t let her stop him.

The ambush wasn’t a surprise.

Hefeltit in the air before the first creature moved. The Hollowborn didn’t screech anymore—they’d learned. Now they hunted quiet. Quick. Efficient.

But Cassian wasn’t afraid.

He wasready.

This was the moment. His moment.

He didn’t call for her.

Didn’t give her time to catch up.

Because if she reached him before it began, she’d stop him.

He couldn’t let that happen.

He tightened his grip on the shard. Let the fire crawl higher, deeper. Let it fill him, own him.

This was his choice.

It had to be.

Now.Before they found the last shard. Before the blade was whole and she had hope again. Before she looked at him and saw something worth saving when he was already halfway gone.

The Hollowborn surged from the shadows.

Cassian turned?—

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