Mingyue remained between Alex and Thepes while he healed them. Her sword did not move away from Thepes's chest.
Thepes watched the green light enter the old vampires.
"Why are you saving them?" he asked.
"Because they're alive," Alex said.
Thepes looked at Marcell.
The old Sovereign forced his eyes open. He could not lift his head, but he saw Soren's body beside the ruined platform. Relief passed across his exhausted face before his eyes closed again.
Thepes noticed it.
"He opposed Soren," Alex said. "Some of the others probably did too."
"They still failed."
Thepes stepped down from the broken platform.
His bare foot landed in the blood covering the floor. The blood moved away from Alex's green light and gathered around Thepes instead.
He looked over the surviving Sovereigns one by one.
"You ruled worlds," he said. "You commanded armies. You called yourselves the strongest race in this universe."
Marcell's hand tightened against the stone.
Thepes continued walking.
