“Release her.”
Silence.
The hall itself seemed to hold its breath.
Zeporah froze.
Her sneer faltered. Her grip tightened in Amerei’s hair.
Horror dawned.
“YOU.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Son of No One
Chains could not hold him. Fire would not spare him.
Zeporah’s fingers uncoiled from Amerei’s hair—
a viper releasing its prey.
Viktor struck first.
Chains split from arms in a spray of ash and fire, the fetters of every human in the hall snapping loose at once.
Gasps and cries rippled through the chamber.
Amerei surged into him, colliding against his chest. He caught her hard, flames guttering to smoke as he crushed her close—just for a breath, long enough to feel her safe against him.
Above the uproar, Zeporah lowered herself into her throne. Black wings of silk and bone flared wide, catching the light. Her calm was worse than rage—every word promised ruin.
“You think a vow makes you untouchable, Captain Seraphim?”
Her voice was sweet with venom.
“I will grind it to ash. And I’ll start with her.”
Viktor bent to Amerei, grip firm at her waist.
“Go with Evander,” he whispered, urgent. “Behind the column.”
She clung tighter, eyes locked to his.
“Viktor—”
He pressed his brow to hers, a kiss seared into her hair.
“Trust me.”
He tore himself back, turning her into Evander’s arms—
But in her eyes,
in that last reflection—
he saw it.
