She collapsed backward, thrashing in her own blood, staring in frozen disbelief at the stump that had been her arm.
Kael watched without flinching.
Without blinking.
Then, voice ice-calm:
"You picked the wrong fool."
Selina's body slumped to the side, unconscious—blood seeping across the velvet couch like spilled ink.
Kael, still crouched, calmly exhaled.
No satisfaction. No regret.
He withdrew the plain steel sword he'd summoned from his space ring—its edge still gleaming with fresh blood—and, without urgency, wiped it clean using the lower folds of Selina's dress.
The silk darkened as it absorbed the crimson, quiet and absolute.
Once clean, he slid the blade back into his ring with practiced ease.
Yue's whisper echoed from the corner of his mind.
"Confirmed. She's alone.No backup."
Kael chuckled under his breath.
"What a fool," he muttered. "To come to me… alone."
But then — footsteps.
His head snapped up.
Too soon.
