Damien exhaled, long and slow. The sigh wasn't angry—but it was filled with disappointment, maybe even pity. "So be it," he murmured. "It seems you've chosen the hard way."
He turned his head slightly and gave a simple nod to Argilia.
She responded with a gentle dip of her chin, her delicate hands lifting into the air. A few feet ahead of her, the ground near her rumbled, and with a violent crack, two thick chains erupted from the earth like awakened serpents, both aimed directly at Enzo and Adeline.
Enzo reached back, his hand slamming against Adeline's shoulder, shoving her several steps away from him. "Stay back," he ordered. His fists clenched, knees bending as he braced himself for whatever was about to come.
Andrei, who was standing beside him, mirrored his stance.
But Damien laughed, a humorless sound. "Even you, Andrei? You would raise your hand against me?"
