Chapter 23: By His Hand

Duke Darius Valen Beaumont stood there, tall and silent, silver-white hair loose over his forehead and red eyes glowing like fire.

He pull Clint, one arm wrapped securely around Clint's waist holding him up, the other already moving toward the hilt of his sword as if preparing to strike at any moment.

Clint stared up at him, frozen for a heartbeat, then looked down at himself, hands running over his own arms and chest as realization hit him fully, his heart skipping a beat.

He didn't transform.

He was still human.

The potion worked.

Even if it was just a small amount, even if it was unstable, it was enough to hold the form.

As relief started to settle in his chest, something else came, thick and heavy, like the air itself was pressing down on him, and that's when Clint realized it was mana, strong mana, too strong and concentrated to ignore.

It wasn't just from the Duke.