Elena fled. The door closed behind her.
Leaving Alaric and Lilith alone.
The pressure in the room remained. Pinning Alaric against the wall.
Lilith took a step forward.
Then she paused.
Her eyes narrowed. Studying him with sudden focus.
"You're not him."
The words came out flat.
Before Alaric could process.
Her fingers snapped.
Reality lurched.
And Alaric vanished.
Lilith stood in the now-empty room, staring at where Alaric had been moments before.
Her expression shifted from predatory interest to irritation.
Then she sighed, long.
Her hand came up, rubbing her temples. "All that hassle of weakening the seal. And he just—"
She pinched the bridge of her nose, her crimson eyes closing briefly.
"Ishtar," she muttered. "You had to ruin my plan, didn't you? Couldn't let me have this one simple thing."
She stood there for several more heartbeats.
Then she straightened. Smoothed her dress.
