Emma's dark magic coiled around her hands like living smoke, pulsing with a rhythm that matched nothing natural.
Everyone's legs froze in place.
"What the hell did you just do?" Blair asked.
"Goddess, I love a good reveal. You can feel the room recalibrating. You know what I love about Drakencrest, specifically? The architecture screams 'we are untouchable,' and the security says 'please, walk right in.' It's like a vault with the door open. Very inviting. Very stupid."
The torches along the walls dimmed further. The shadows in the throne room stretched and deepened, reaching toward her like they'd been waiting for permission.
"Oh, and your mage over there?" Emma's eyes slid to the woman standing in the shadow near the south wall. "Yeah. She's staying out of this."
Every head turned. Including the ones that should have been watching Emma's hands instead of following her gaze like trained dogs.
