Rhen shifted back to Sebastian immediately, and Sebastian was on his hands and knees on the floor, gasping, staring at Lilith with wide eyes. "She....she pushed me off. I was halfway through the mark and something just...threw me."
Nicholas looked at Lilith and felt his blood run cold.
She was still convulsing but the force that had thrown Sebastian was gone now, pulled back inside her. Her body was glowing faintly....just barely, a silver light pulsing beneath her skin in time with her heartbeat.
"What is happening to her?" Nicholas demanded, turning to Dr. Aldric.
Dr. Aldric moved closer carefully, his eyes fixed on Lilith, and when he spoke his voice was awed and terrified in equal measure. "She rejected the mark."
"What?"
"Her body...or her magic....rejected being claimed while she's unconscious."
