---
Sekhmet barely read it.
Stephen's blood was everywhere now.
The wound Elena had just opened along his side was very deep.
Divine blood ran down his clothes and dropped onto the stone.
Sekhmet could feel each drop before it landed.
Stephen turned back toward Elena. He had succeeded in sending Mihos away. Now he no longer needed to protect anyone.
That should have made him more dangerous.
Instead, Sekhmet noticed something else.
Stephen was tired. Not physically exhausted like an ordinary cultivator. His divine power had been spent repeatedly. He had fought Elena. Then Sofia and Natasha.
Then all three together.
He had used his strange power across large areas several times. Now he had used an enormous amount again to force an escape route through the surrounding estate. His heartbeat had changed.
Sekhmet could hear it.
Slower.
Heavier.
More irregular.
The hunger inside him responded.
[Host Bloodlust: 98%.]
Sekhmet took one step forward.
Elena looked back at him.
