|Snow|
The warriors wasted no time dragging David before me and Kairos. They forced him down with unwavering grip, pressing his shoulders until he dropped to his knees. His head hung low, dark strands of hair shielding his face as if he could somehow hide from what was to come.
"Kill her, David!" Aunt Astrid’s shrill command echoed again—this time louder, sharper—as though her voice had burrowed into the very stones of the keep. The sound ricocheted off every wall, relentless and grating, until it nestled painfully behind my eyes. Whether it was the repetition or just the sheer nerve of her audacity, I couldn’t say. All I knew was that her voice was starting to drive me mad.
I exhaled sharply through my nose and turned to the warriors.
“Take him outside,” I said, my voice firm. “Somew
