What woke her was someone throwing her down onto hard stone.
It tore her out of the dark as her cheek scraped against carved grooves.
Her mind latched onto that single detail.
Throne room. She knew the pattern.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!" Dex's voice roared through the haze, furious and feral.
More voices followed, all muffled, like they were under water.
She was caught between consciousness and not, drifting in and out. Her body felt heavy, distant, slow to respond. Silver burned into her skin where the cuffs bit deep.
A boot caught her ribs, kicking her flat onto her back.
Her arm flared, pain detonating so violently it stole what little breath she had.
A roar thundered in the distance. Velkaris.
Even through the fog clouding her mind, the connection snapped tight.
He wanted to help her. She felt him and knew he did.
Heat formed around her hands, melting the silver cuffs wrapped around her wrists. The metal hissed, dripping to the floor in molten ribbons.
