Arrows fly loose, slicing the air before I even hear the command. The first line of guards surrounding us take the hit, bodies jerking, collapsing. Blood sprays. I stumble back, chest heaving at the sight of the chaos unfurling like a nightmare I have no wish to be a part of.
Guards rush forward, colliding against the defense as Lucien's voice rips through the air, commanding, but distant to my ringing ears. I barely register his words. All I see is Rafael's smile cutting through the haze, knowing, satisfied.
A guard lunges at me, his sword arching with a swing vicious enough to take my head, but Lucien catches him. His hands clamp over the man's skull and the entire hall seems to hold a breath as he tears it clean off his shoulders.
The body collapses, still twitching, and Lucien tosses the head at Cyrus like a volley, the bleeding mess landing at his feet, cracking the marble upon impact.
Shrieks fill the air, and the hall explodes into chaos. And death.
