The silence after Selena's words was brutal.
It wasn't the silence of awe—it was the kind that pressed against eardrums and made hearts misfire.
Graye's grin died first, while Jessy's lazy slouch straightened.
Even Siris, who normally treated danger like her second lover, tightened her grip on her daggers.
The only sound was the faint hiss of cooling glass where Raven's breath had melted the cavern floor.
"A… demon tyrant?" Rufus finally said, his voice low, like the words themselves might bite.
Jake's shadow curled tighter, black tendrils twitching with restrained panic, as he could still remember how he had to burn his life force all to stop a demon tyrant from crossing over.
Everyone knew that, and that was why the impact of Selena's words was greater—especially when Mistress, who knew more about demons, had specifically told them that this demon tyrant was stronger.
Alex opened his mouth, but before a single syllable escaped, a snap of air silenced everything.
