"Your associates were supposed to be contained," the Eldest hissed, her voice now carrying harmonics that made the crystalline walls crack. "Explain this breach."
"My associates," Maelith replied with cool composure, "don't respond well to cages. I may have neglected to mention that one of them is a former Overseer, and the other is old enough to remember when your ancestors were still learning to light candles without burning themselves."
The chamber doors exploded inward with a sound like thunder, but what emerged wasn't quite what anyone expected.
Marcus strode through the smoking wreckage with predatory grace, ice crystals wreathing his form like a crown of winter itself.
Behind him came Callum, whose human facade had cracked just enough to reveal hints of scales along his jawline and eyes that promised dragon fire.
But it was Luna who commanded attention.
