A smear of blood stained his lower lip. He lifted his gaze again, meeting Elowen's across the hall.
The staff surged forward to restrain the mermaid, dragging ropes and chains.
But something within Elowen snapped.
Her glass slipped from her hand, shattering. Rage, grief, and a pulse of raw instinct surged through her veins. Her eyes locked with the mermaid's — and in that instant, something passed between them. A spark, a silent command.
The mermaid's eyes flew open. With a guttural cry, her massive tail whipped forward, sending guards sprawling across the marble. Chains clattered and broke.
Chaos erupted. Vampires shrieked, hissing, lunging forward with claws bared. The mermaid thrashed, clawing, throwing bodies aside like rag dolls. Her tail breaking the furnitures, glasses breaking with wine splattering from them.
