The training room fell quiet after Marcus announced that the session was over. The heavy pressure that had filled the chamber disappeared as quickly as it had arrived, and the savage grin on his face softened into a small, satisfied smile. He rolled his shoulders and relaxed his hands, looking more like the guild president Nova and Adam had met than the monster who had been beating them senseless moments earlier.
Neither of the boys was in any condition to appreciate the change.
Adam managed to take one step toward Nova before his knees gave out. He dropped onto the floor with one hand pressed against his ribs, struggling to draw a proper breath. Every attempt sent a sharp pain through his side. Across from him, Nova remained sprawled on the fractured ground, his chest rising and falling in shallow movements. He had tried to get up when Marcus called an end to training, but his arms had refused to cooperate.
