A Queen is Born

The alley was quiet.

Too quiet.

Beren stood over the man on the ground, her chest heaving.

Her knuckles were bloodied. Not her blood.

The man whimpered, clutching his broken nose. Tears pooled in his eyes.

She had done this. She had broken him.

Behind her, Emir leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching.

"How do you feel?"

Beren didn't answer immediately. She flexed her fingers, staring down at her bruised hands.

Powerful.

She lifted her chin. "Like I want to do it again."

Emir's smirk was slow, satisfied. "That's my girl."

Beren turned to him, her brown eyes burning. "I'm ready."

Emir pushed off the wall, stepping toward her. "Are you?"

His fingers curled under her chin, tilting her face up to him.

"Because the moment we take our revenge… there's no going back."

Beren didn't flinch.

Didn't waver.

She was ready.

Emir chuckled, low and dark. "Then let's raise some hell."