Liam, Jayden, and Moon burst into the room the moment the violent crash echoed through the palace walls.
The sight that greeted them made the air freeze.
Aldric had a vampire pinned against the wall, one hand wrapped around his throat, lifting him off the ground as though he weighed nothing. Cracks spider-webbed across the stone behind them, fragments falling softly to the floor. The vampire's feet dangled uselessly, his face drained of color, his eyes wide with terror.
Jayden's lips curved into a slow smirk. "Well" he drawled, folding his arms, "finally. Looks like there will be bloodshed tonight."
Moon, however, wasn't smiling. His gaze was fixed on Aldric. Something was wrong, very wrong.
The aura around his master was unstable, dark, violent, and burning far hotter than usual. It pulsed like a living thing, pressing down on the room, making even breathing feel difficult. Moon turned his head and met Liam's eyes.
