Nihil

Lust hit the ground first, her body scraping against the jagged, dark terrain. She barely felt the pain, too consumed by the chaos swirling around them. The portal had been a mistake. They were supposed to bring Kiara, but instead, they had pulled in a stranger—this mage, this Veryon.

Lust's sharp gaze flickered to the others as they slowly rose from the ground, just as confused, just as enraged. They had all expected Kiara to be there, not him. Their plans were in ruins before they even had a chance to begin.

"What is this?" Lust's voice was a hiss, barely controlled. "This isn't Kiara. This is nothing but a mage."

Veryon groaned, pushing himself upright, blood trickling down his forehead. He looked every bit the part of a man who'd been thrown through hell and back, but he wasn't broken—not yet.

"I'm not your pawn," he spat, barely able to stand.