The inside of the building was a labyrinth of shadows and silence, the air heavy with the scent of dampness, fear, and something else: the unmistakable scent of Hilda’s parents, faint but clear, which Sigvar picked up instantly. His instincts roared in my mind, guiding me through the dark corridors of the third floor, my footsteps silent against the concrete floor. Every closed door was a potential threat, but the scent led me straight to one at the end of the hallway, guarded by a burly Gamma, his aura heavy as lead. Sigvar growled, his power swelling within me, my muscles tensing.
There was no time for subtlety.
With a swift move, I lunged at the Gamma, my hand covering his mouth while my other hand struck the back of his neck with precision. He collapsed without a sound, his body crum
