"Please!" Julian's voice cracked with desperation. "Don't hurt him anymore!"
Alistair Blackwood paused, his hand still crackling with dark energy as he stood over Leo's broken form. The young man was barely conscious, blood pooling beneath his shattered arm.
"Are you begging me, Alliance Master?" Alistair's voice carried cruel satisfaction. "How refreshing. I was beginning to think you didn't understand the gravity of your situation."
Julian's hands trembled with rage and helplessness. Every instinct screamed at him to attack, to protect his son, but he knew the gap in their abilities was too vast. Alistair wasn't just stronger. He was operating on a completely different level.
"I understand perfectly," Julian said through gritted teeth. "You've made your point."
"Have I though?" Alistair stepped closer to Leo, who groaned weakly. "Your son seems to have inherited your stubborn streak. Perhaps a more permanent lesson is needed."
"No." Julian's voice was barely a whisper.
