The wyvern's chest expanded, frost gathering in its throat.
Its golden eyes were locked on Tess.
Gabriel saw it happen as if time had slowed. Saw the creature's ribs spread wide, saw the temperature drop further as absolute cold built in its maw, saw Tess frozen in place with nowhere to run.
Something inside him snapped.
Not broke. Snapped. Like a chain under tension finally giving way.
The red smoke didn't seep from his skin. It erupted.
A wall of crimson fog exploded outward from Gabriel's body with enough force to crack the frozen ground beneath him. The wave spread in all directions, filling the ravine, thick and choking and violent.
The wyvern's head snapped toward him, its breath weapon redirecting on instinct.
Gabriel was already moving.
His eyes had changed. The red irises bled outward, consuming the white entirely until only black remained with crimson pupils burning at their centres.
