Ivan’s eyes darted to the bodyguards holding Maximilian, their grips firm as they glanced anxiously at Bjorn. “Hey—leave him now!” Ivan barked, his voice a command that cut through the chaos of the room.
The bodyguards hesitated, their eyes flicking between Bjorn, who was completely focused on Alora, and Ivan’s furious expression. The tension hung thick in the air. For a brief moment, everything seemed suspended in time.
Ivan’s patience snapped, and his voice thundered through the room. “I said—leave him now!”
The bodyguards exchanged one last look, uncertainty etched across their faces. But when they saw the fury in Ivan’s eyes, they released their hold on Maximilian.
The moment his arms were free, Maximilian sprang forward like a bullet. His body launched through the air, and in a he
