The silence was deafening after Viktor fell to the ground, clutching at his side where blood seeped through his fingers. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the entire world had paused, frozen in time like every breath Selene took was measured, every movement a quiet echo of the choices she had made.
Viktor wasn't dead. She knew that. He wasn't someone who would easily fall. But seeing him stagger, the shock in his eyes, was enough to make her heart race. She hadn't anticipated seeing him like this, vulnerable. For a moment, it made her wonder just how far she was willing to go to finally be free of his grasp.
Cassian's hand gripped her arm, pulling her back as he stared at Viktor. "Don't get too close," he warned, his voice low but sharp, eyes flicking back and forth, scanning for any sign of movement.
