RHETT
He didn't attack. Instead, he began to dissolve into a thick, black oil that seeped into the cracks between the marble tiles. His voice lingered in the air, a disjointed echo that seemed to come from every corner of the room.
"The real Lawrence is a hollow shell, Nola. Even if he wakes, the man you knew is gone. Malakai didn't just use him as an anchor. He ate him from the inside out. Enjoy your victory while it lasts. The moon is setting, but the dark is just beginning to wake up."
The foyer fell silent again, the oppressive weight lifting just enough for me to breathe. I slumped against the wall, still clutching Lawrence, my heart racing.
"Is he gone?" Nola whispered, sheathing her dagger. She looked small in the center of the vast room, the morning light finally reaching her f
