The black wisps of energy on the floor surged upward, binding Austin's jaw shut completely and leaving him muffling in absolute silence against the cold stone floor.
Killian didn't even grant him the courtesy of a glance.
Ignoring the writhing man entirely, Killian turned to Severine and threw his arms around her waist, burying her face deeply into his chest.
"Oh, Severine... you scared me," he whispered, his voice cracking with the heavy, lingering remnants of his sheer terror.
"I am fine," Severine said softly.
She raised her hands to gently pat his back, letting her familiar warmth calm the frantic, erratic thumping of his heart.
Killian pulled back slightly, his crimson eyes scanning her face for any hidden signs of injury before his gaze drifted down to the groveling, bloody mess on the floor. "This?"
Severine let out a soft sigh. The raw, white-hot anger that had consumed her moments ago had completely simmered down to almost nothing the moment Killian appeared.
