Ivan's head snapped up, his sharp blue eyes narrowing as he processed the command. For a moment, he thought he must have misheard.
"Seriously?" The word burst from him, a rare crack in his otherwise disciplined demeanor. His voice carried a note of disbelief that even he couldn't suppress. "You can't be serious!"
The figure before him didn't so much as flinch. Its piercing gaze bore into Ivan's soul, its tone dropping to a chilling octave. "Do you question my decree?"
The air in the chamber seemed to shift, growing heavy and cold. The crystalline light that bathed the sanctum flickered as though in warning.
Ivan exhaled sharply, forcing himself to rein in his emotions. "No," he replied, his voice steadier now, though tension still laced his words.
"But the lady isn't with us at the moment," he continued, choosing his words carefully. "And the others… they're not ready. This all came too suddenly."