My mind reeled, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The glint of the dagger fragments falling through the air, the shock in the assassin's eyes, and the beat of my own heart. None of it felt real.
Silence rippled across the market. Elves turned, gaping as they caught sight of the demon and the blade in his hand. Kahlen had kept a low profile during our time at Wildblossom, but now his silvery cloak unfurled, his gleaming silver skin on full display. Worse was his aura, which rose like a dragon, gripping the market with full seventh-level fury.
Seventh? Hadn't he only been sixth?
The thought drifted hazily through my mind, mixing with a hundred others. But in the end, as reality came crashing down, all I could do was scream. I reeled back, clutching at my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. My fingers met smooth, flawless skin, but memories of scorching blood, breathless gasps, and inquisitor steel overran the sensation.
