The air in the chamber had grown thick, almost liquid, heavy with the sweet, treacherous smoke rising from the bronze incense burner. It coiled around the carved pillars like a lover's whisper, seductive and merciless. Each breath pulled it deeper into her lungs, turning her blood into molten fire.
Seraphine staggered back, her silver hair clinging to her damp temples. Her chest heaved as crackling divine light sparked violently at her fingertips, unstable and weakening.
"Stay away from me!" The words tore from her throat, raw and desperate.
She hurled another blast toward him.
The explosion of pure silver power slammed into Xavriel with a force that should have shattered bone and stone alike. Yet he remained standing.
Unscathed.
