[Silthara Palace—Later]
The palace felt the tremor before any attendant even understood what was happening.
Silver scales scraped violently against marble as Zeramet's colossal serpent body stormed through the gates, guards thrown aside like sand.
Doors slammed open, lanterns shattered, servants scrambled back in terror, and in the center of his coils—
Levin.
Barely conscious, bleeding, held as though the world could steal him away.
Iru's face paled.
"Consort!" His voice broke as he ran.
Lyseraph clung desperately to Levin's wounded side, releasing faint bursts of silver energy to keep him stable.
Zeramet didn't stop moving; he barreled down the palace corridors, destroying anything too slow to move aside.
As he reached their private chamber—
"Bring hot water! Clean cloth! Move!" Iru shouted, shoving servants aside. Attendants sprinted, tripping over themselves, and then—
BOOM—Silver light burst outward.
