The moment Emily refused, the air changed.
Not violently.
But decisively.
Like a system that had just confirmed a fault and immediately initiated a response.
The hum in the room deepened.
The structure around them seemed to lock—subtle at first, then undeniable.
Emily felt it in her chest.
Pressure.
Building.
“…That was fast,” she muttered.
Kael’s stance shifted immediately.
“Move,” she said sharply.
But there was nowhere to move.
The room itself had changed.
The space that had felt open before now felt… defined.
Measured.
Controlled.
Theodore’s shadows spread quickly—thin at first, then denser, forming a loose perimeter around them.
Not a shield.
A warning.
Emily’s breathing quickened.
“…I think we triggered something.”
“You did,” Kael said.
Emily shot her a look. “
