Cyan woke slowly.
Not from fear—
but from control.
The echo of Zach's voice still lingered in his mind, steady and firm, like an anchor.
You're learning.
Cyan sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. His body felt lighter, sharper, as if every nerve had been tuned perfectly.
Quinn watched him closely. "You were training again, weren't you?"
Cyan nodded. "Yeah."
Mason frowned. "You say that like it's normal."
Cyan looked down at his hands. For a brief moment, his hair lightened—then darkened again as he relaxed.
"It's starting to listen to me," he said quietly.
Crayson shifted uneasily. "That doesn't sound comforting."
Before anyone could respond, Cyan felt it.
A pressure.
Not close—but connected.
His chest tightened.
Zach's voice whispered through his thoughts.
He felt you.
Cyan's eyes snapped up. "He knows."
"Who?" Quinn asked.
Cyan hesitated.
Then said the name.
"My brother."
The air went still.
Mason blinked. "You never said you had a brother."
"I wasn't supposed to," Cyan replied. "Not him."
He stood, pacing slowly. "His name is Camil. He's older than me. Stronger than anyone in our bloodline—until now."
Quinn crossed her arms. "And he's the one hunting you."
Cyan nodded. "He believes vampires shouldn't hide. That power should rule openly."
Crayson swallowed. "So what does that make you?"
Cyan stopped moving.
"The mistake he couldn't control."
A faint pulse of energy rippled outward—controlled, contained.
Zach's voice returned, calm but serious.
Power isn't what divides you.
Choice is.
Cyan exhaled slowly.
"When my hair turns white," he said, "I can feel him. Like a shadow on the edge of my mind."
Mason muttered, "That's not creepy at all."
Quinn met Cyan's eyes. "Are you scared?"
Cyan thought about it.
About the dream.
About Zach.
About the strength he accepted.
Then he shook his head.
"No," he said. "But I'm not ready either."
His gaze hardened slightly—focused, determined.
"Which means I train harder."
Far away, beneath a blood-colored moon, a man paused mid-step.
Camil smiled faintly.
"That pressure…" he murmured.
"So you've started, little brother."
His eyes gleamed.
"Good."