Alaric ducked low. Tried to slip past the hooded figure.
But Lyssa was faster.
Her hand shot out closing around his forearm before he'd completed the dodge.
She yanked him sideways.
Alaric slammed into the wall. Stone scraping through his shirt. His injured shoulder screaming protest.
CLANK! CLANK!
The vials in his pockets rattled violently against each other.
Before he could recover—
Lyssa twisted his arms behind him.
Cold metal clicked around his wrists, restraining artifacts that immediately suppressed his essence, making it impossible to channel or resist.
SLAM!
She drove him forward into the wall again. His cheek pressed against rough stone. The remaining vials clinked dangerously.
Only if there weren't restrictions... The thought flashed through Alaric's mind with bitter frustration. If I could actually use my actual power, this would be—
But he couldn't. And he was pinned and helpless.
He hissed through gritted teeth. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"
