The roar came again.
Not sound alone — force. It rolled through the castle like a physical wave, shaking dust from ancient stone, rattling doors in their frames, making the very air vibrate inside Emily’s lungs.
She clamped her hands over her ears too late.
“What is that?!” she shouted.
“The Breaker,” Theodore said.
Not raised. Not strained.
But there was tension under it now — tight, controlled, dangerous.
Another impact struck, closer than before. Somewhere below them, a section of the fortress collapsed with a thunderous crash, followed by a grinding avalanche of falling masonry.
Emily’s fire surged wildly in response, flaring up her arms like living armor.
“Tell me that thing can’t get in here.”
Theodore didn’t answer immediately.
Which was answer enough.
“Great,” she said
