Chapter 77 Trigger Point
Luna’s POV
“Then prove it.” The words didn’t echo. Instead, they settled heavily and finally.
Like a challenge, the world itself was waiting to see answers.
My heart pounded against my ribs, but I didn’t look away from him or from it. Because somewhere behind those cold, controlled eyes… Kai was still there. I knew it. I had to believe it.
“Fine,” I said quietly, forcing strength into my voice even as my back screamed in protest from where he’d slammed me into the lockers. “Let’s see how strong you really are.”
Its head tilted slightly. Studying me and calculating. “You misunderstand,” it replied. “Strength is no longer relevant.”
I let out a short breath. “Then why are you still talking to me?”
That made it pause just for a second. Good.
“You said I’m interfering,” I continued, pushing forward. “That means I matter.”
Its eyes narrowed slightly. “Temporarily.”
I almost smiled. “Still counts.”
The grip on my shoulder loosened. But not out of mercy, but curiosity.
And that was exactly what I needed. “Let me go,” I said.
Silence followed then slowly… It did.
I slid down slightly before catching myself, my legs shaky but holding. Every nerve in my body was screaming, but I forced myself upright, refusing to show weakness.
Because this wasn’t just a fight. It was a battle of presence, of will, and of who gets to exist in that body. I stepped closer. Carefully. Watching every movement, and every flicker in his expression.
“If you’re really in control,” I said softly, “then why haven’t you gotten rid of me?”
Its gaze sharpened. “I am evaluating.”
“Or hesitating.” That hit. I saw it.
A flicker,.it was quick, and sharp…like something pushing back from underneath.
“Kai,” I said, more firmly now. “I know you can hear me.”
Nothing. But I didn’t stop. “You don’t have to fight it alone.”
The thing’s jaw tightened slightly. “He is irrelevant.”
“No,” I said immediately. “He’s everything.” Then a pulse and then I saw it again. A crack in the surface. So I stepped closer. Closer than I should have and close enough to feel the faint heat of his skin, the tension in his body.
“If you were really in control,” I whispered, “you wouldn’t be reacting every time I say his name.”
Its hand twitched. But not striking and not grabbing. It's just… Reacting.
“Kai,” I said again, louder this time. The reaction was stronger and then a sharp inhale. A flicker in his eyes was gone just as quickly. But it was enough.
“He’s still here,” I said, with my voice steady now. “And he’s not letting you take over.” The thing went very still. Dangerously still. “You are misinterpreting residual neural activity.” Then I tilted my head slightly. “Then why does it bother you?”
No answer. Just silence and tension. Good. That meant I was getting somewhere.
“You said I’m a trigger,” I continued. “So let’s test that.”
Before it could react….
I reached up and grabbed his hand. The moment our skin touched… Everything exploded.
A violent blast of energy snapped through him…through us, and like a live wire connecting. He gasped. It was not the thing.
It was Kai. “Luna….!”
“There you are,” I whispered, gripping his hand tighter. The presence roared in fury. “Severe connection!”
“No!”
I held on harder, even as the force pushing against me intensified, trying to tear us apart.
“Kai, listen to me!” I shouted. “You’re still in there! You just have to fight!”
“I’m trying…!” he choked out.
His body jerked violently, like he was being pulled in two directions at once.
And maybe he was.
“Focus on me!” I said desperately. “Not it…me!”
“I can’t…!”
“Yes, you can!”
The pressure spiked and my knees nearly buckled. But I didn’t let go.
I couldn’t. Not now. Not when I could feel him….like really feel him…
right there.
“You said you trust me,” I said, my voice shaking now but unyielding. “So trust me now!”
Then, a shift, small, but real. His grip tightened around mine, but it was not forced and not controlled. It was chosen.
“I’m… here…” he whispered.
Relief slammed into me so hard it almost knocked the breath out of me.
“Good,” I said quickly. “Stay with me.”
The thing inside him lashed out violently.
His entire body snapped forward, with a scream tearing from his throat as the pressure inside him surged to a breaking point. “You will break him!” it roared.
“No,” I shot back. Then I stepped closer and pressed my other hand against his chest again. Right over his heart. “He’s stronger than you think.”
The air trembled and the battle wasn’t over. Not even close.
But for the first time since this started…
We weren’t losing. And neither was he.