Chapter 143: The Price of Protection

The world blurred around Mariana, a confusing mix of pain and fuzzy thinking. She barely hung onto consciousness, the fight to stay awake a tug-of-war against the sweet darkness pulling at her. Each breath felt like a huge effort, her body a battlefield of burning pain and bone-tired exhaustion. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, hers and Tiago's, a constant reminder of the violence of her transformation. The bite she delivered in a frenzy had faded to a dull ache, her grip on Tiago's neck loosening with each wave of fading energy. Tiago noticed the subtle change in her hold, his worried gaze scanning her face. He saw the flinch with each shallow breath, the struggle to keep her eyes open. A strong urge to comfort and protect her washed over him. He leaned closer, meaning to rest his forehead against hers in a comforting gesture. But in that moment of instinct, he missed his mark. His lips, instead of finding hers, brushed right against the bite wound, the metallic