Savannah
The acrid smell of smoke stung my nostrils as I was pulled away from the chaos. Screams echoed through the hall, and panicked guests stumbled over overturned furniture.
Smoke burned my eyes. I blinked rapidly, trying to regain focus. Moments ago, I had stood beside Xavier, moments from being crowned. Now the hall was in ruins, with guards shouting over the noise.
“Xavier!” I screamed, my voice barely rising above the din. “I need to go back! He’s in there!”
I pushed through the crowd, shoving past bodies that blurred into shadows and screams. My legs moved on pure instinct, unthinking, fueled by panic. I didn’t care who I hit or how hard I was shoved in return. Nothing mattered but getting back to him.
Then, suddenly, a hand seized my wrist. A guard. I jerked against him wit
