Elena closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I never wanted this… I never wanted anyone to die."
The vibration screamed louder. Lyra's hand began to descend. And in that moment.
A blinding red-white flame tore through the sky.
The air detonated.
The ground collapsed inward as a massive crater formed between Lyra and Elena.
Flames rolled outward like a living tide. A figure descended from the inferno and landed at the center of the impact.
ETHAN VALOR.
His feet touched the ground, and the shockwave died instantly. He stood between Lyra and Elena.
His eyes lifted slowly.
"No one dies today," Ethan said..
Lyra stared at him, surprised, confused… then furious.
"Who are you," she demanded, a vibration flaring instinctively around her body.
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he took one step forward. "If you want blood, you fight me."
