I plastered on the fakest smile I could conjure, my cheeks aching with the effort as I nodded, my fingers curling into fists at my sides.
Her laugh was sharp and cruel as she caught the movement.
“It must be torture, knowing you’ll never be anything more than a fragile little plaything.”She inspected her nails with feigned disinterest.“Knowing yourpatheticmortal body could never contain even a fraction of real power.”
Fury built up inside me, but I kept my expression neutral.
“Poor little human,” she continued, taking a step closer.
Her presence was suffocating, like breathing through wet cloth.Mira fidgeted beside me, her shoulder bumping mine in warning.
Tavrik and Theo had gone deadly still.
“You’ll never truly belong here, will you?Never be one of us.”Another step.“You’ll never live as long as us.”
Her voice dropped to a threatening whisper.“Never fuck like us.Never be worthy of someone like our king.”
She was close enough to see the shades of blue in her eyes.To smell vanilla mixed with something bitter on her skin.
“Are you finished?”I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.“Because I have better things to do than listen to your tantrum.”
Her face twisted with rage as I turned away.“Come on, let’s—”
Her hand shot out, fingers gripping my throat with a promise of violence.“Don’t you dare turn your back on me, you disgusting mortal—”
Her words transformed into a violent scream that tore through the air.
Azmik materialised over my shoulders in an explosion of flame and fury, his head burning brighter than ever before.He struck at lightning speed, his mouth gaping wide to reveal fangs dripping with molten venom.
He buried them deep in her throat.
A wailing scream tore from her lips.Her hands flew to her neck, clawing at the burning flesh as she dropped to her knees.The crack of kneecaps striking stone echoed around us.
Every remaining person froze, staring at the unfolding chaos with wide, terrified eyes.
Iznia writhed in agony, her body contorting like she’d been set on fire from the inside out.Azmik slithered down my body, his scales scraping against my skin.He hissed, fangs still bared and dripping as he advanced on her fallen form.
The area around her throat began to bubble and blister, angry red burns spreading down her chest in a pattern that healed and renewed itself in an endless cycle of torment.She scrambled backwards on her hands, her cracked voice screaming.
Thunder rolled across the balcony—not from the sky, but from approaching footsteps.
Everyone’s heads dropped, but I couldn’t look away.
Dalkhan cut through the remaining crowd, bodies parting before him like he was a force of nature.He searched for me, scanning faces until his eyes locked with mine, his brows scrunched in confusion.
He looked down at Azmik, his gaze sharpening.Without uttering a single word, Azmik halted—his serpentine body going perfectly still.
Something passed between them, a communication beyond words.
Within seconds Dalkhan’s confusion transformed into pure rage.Flames came to life on his skin, hungry for destruction.He snarled, revealing his teeth.
Each step toward Iznia cracked the ground beneath his feet.
“You dared to put your hands on her!”The words exploded from him.
We all collectively held our breath, Mira’s hand tightening on my arm while Theo and Tavrik moved in closer.
Iznia’s sobbed in broken, hiccupping gasps.Tears streamed down her face as she clutched her ruined throat.
