Doubt

"Not mine." A faint flicker passed through Nikolai's eyes. His focus remained firmly on Ophelia, who appeared more resilient than before. His veins continued to pound with relief.

"Not yours?" Ophelia questioned, putting her arms across her chest. "Where is Lev?"

"Somewhere." Nikolai wrenched his eyes away from her, back to the mansion. His eyes grew glum. "There are many dragons in there who have their minds manipulated."

"You killed them?" Ophelia tugged at his shirt.

"Yes?" Nikolai asked in a tone that mirrored hers before turning back to face her. A calm softness came over his gaze.

Ophelia sucked in a breath. "Why?"

"They attempted to kill me. It was self-defense." Nikolai murmured dryly.

Ophelia released his shirt and approached Rhaziel to see if Esmeralda had regained consciousness. "Is it possible to reverse the manipulation?"

"I will make an effort." Rhaziel nodded.