Chapter 125: Dragging Her Back From the Abyss

Dante moved fast.

Before Bella could strike again, before she could disappear into the darkness completely—

He grabbed her.

Hard.

His arms locked around her waist, his grip unrelenting, his breath against her ear.

"You are mine, Bella," he snarled. *"And I am not letting you go."

Bella laughed, dark and twisted.

"Then you'll die with me."

She thrashed in his grip, her claws raking down his arms, but Dante held on.

Held on like his life depended on it.

Because it did.

Because if she slipped into the Hollow One completely—he wouldn't survive it.

"Fight it," he growled, his voice raw. "Come back to me."

Bella's body trembled.

She fought.

But not against him.

Against herself.

Against the thing trying to take her.

"Dante," she choked out, her golden eyes flickering beneath the black. *"I don't know if I can."

Dante's grip tightened.

"You can."

His voice cracked.

"You will."

Bella shuddered violently, her body convulsing, a scream ripping from her throat.

Dante felt it.

The pull of the Hollow One.

The war inside her.

Then—

Bella collapsed.

Dante caught her before she hit the ground, his arms locking around her, his heart thundering.

She was breathing.

But she was weak.

And Dante knew.

This wasn't over.

This was only the beginning.

And if he didn't find a way to sever the Hollow One's hold on her—

She would be lost.

For good.