C102 THE SECOND CLAIM TO THE THRONE

Elara didn’t have time to scream twice.

The flaming hand latched around her ankle with a force that felt ancient—older than every realm, older than every throne, older than the concept of mercy itself—and yanked.

The world inverted.

Sky.

Ground.

Light.

Darkness.

Everything spun until there was only falling.

“Elara!” the First Heir roared from above