Isiah opened his hand, letting the dark magic dissipate into the cold night air.
The heavy pressure vanished.
Eijar slithered back up his coat, wrapping around his neck once more with a satisfied flick of her tongue.
Isiah turned his head slightly, his dark, cold gaze sweeping over the blood-stained gravel toward Lexie and Ciel.
"The path is open," Isiah said flatly, stepping over the debris as if nothing had happened. "Let's go."
Lexie stood frozen, her eyes wide .The horrific reality of Astrid's plan hung heavy in the air, confirmed by the guards and the trap that had just been spring-sprung, but the cold precision of her death sat like lead in Lexie's chest.
For the past month, Astrid had been their helper in this region. She was the one who provided shelter, secured modern supplies, and navigated the dangerous bureaucracy that kept them alive.
Even with all her cold skepticism, she had kept them safe, fed, and hidden.
