Meanwhile, smoke poured through the corridors of Kieran's fortress.

Nikolai's fires had spread faster than expected. Ancient wood and cloth caught like paper.

Guards ran everywhere. Shouting orders as they tried to organize themselves.

But chaos ruled now.

Nikolai moved through the smoke like a ghost. His green eyes cold as winter as he search for Laura because immediately after the fire started, Kieran had moved her.

A guard stumbled out of the haze. Nikolai's knife found his throat before he could scream.

Another guard. Another death.

Nikolai had always been precise and clinical. He killed without emotion.

But tonight was different.

Tonight he was brutal.

His knife didn't just...