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"Let me guess. You two completed your mate bond?"

I tried to ignore him, focusing on feeling for Kaiya.Is she okay?

"The Reaper will not be pleased, you know. She had such high hopes for this little experiment of hers. But, it's probably for the best. I have orders to bring you in or kill you if necessary. Instead, I think I'll just leave you here. You won't last much longer in this in-between state anyways … '"

No!I had to survive — had to find a way to get free and save Kaiya.

I raged against my prison again, feeling it tighten, cutting deeper into my korra with each move — tearing away pieces ofme.

I only paused when I felt another shifter enter the cave.

Why wouldn't they just leave mealone?

"Alpha Japhire, we've picked up the Giant's trail again."

"Good," Japhire replied. "Continue after it. I'll catch up in a moment."

The second presence left, and Japhire was quiet for so long I thought maybe he'd left, too.

"Do you know what a silvertail does when it gets a leg caught in a snare, Tye?" he asked, words halting.

What is this? Is he really trying to give me a fucking science lesson right now?!

"If the silvertail can't get free, it will eventually gnaw its leg off."

I froze. What was he suggesting?

"You're no silvertail, pup. And from the old stories I've heard, that between state you're in is a death sentence. But maybe you can find a way out … like a silvertail. I'm not sure why … but part of me hopes you do. Then perhaps we can have a real fight — alpha to alpha."

I ignored everything but what he'd said about a silvertail gnawing its leg off, barely even noticing when he strode out of the cave.

I couldn't just tear out the damn metal. It was so bound into my body essence that I'd be unable to form into anything but a bloody pulp.

But I could manipulate it. It was the only part of my korra I could feel, let alone control. Maybe … maybe I could let go. If I could cut off one of my forms, it might be enough to escape my prison, just as the silvertail did with its leg …

I'd never really wanted to be a wolf, anyways. Would it be so bad to be stuck as a human?

Except … as a human, there was little I could do to protecther.

Could I do the other option, though? Give up myhuman side to become something stronger — more powerful.

Kings alive, I had to.Even though it meant giving up a life withher… a life like last night.

Ignoring the pain in my chest, I crafted a form in my mind that could protect my mate, then forced my essence to take that shape, even as it cut and tore away parts of me.

I'm coming, Kaiya. Just hang on a little longer …

Chapter 59

Kaiya

Istood, hands wrapped around the bars of the cage, watching as the sun set over the mountains, turning the clouds … a gray-red.

Fuck. It was as though all the colors in the world had been leached away by the damn corruption. And it didn't help that they'd put me back in a collar. I'd almost forgotten how numb and weak that band of metal made me feel.

I looked back at the other prisoners huddled in the cage.

How did they live like this?