{IRIS}
"That's enough, Zephyros."
The voice struck the air like a blade.
Deep.
Icy.
Everything stopped.
Zephyros's smile faltered, the shadows quivered, and the pages hanging midair fell lifelessly to the floor.
Slowly—very slowly—Zephyros turned his head toward the source of the voice.
And I, sobbing, shaking on the cold marble, lifted my gaze through blurred tears—
To see a figure stepping out from the far end of the library.
Tall.
Dark-clad.
Red-eyed.
His presence swallowed the entire room.
Vampire.
That was the only word that thundered through my skull when my gaze collided with his.
He towered above me—taller than Lord Val by a clear margin, his frame lean but forged with an unmistakable godly grace.
Long dark hair cascaded down his back like spilled ink, and those eyes… Crimson like the most beautiful of rubies.
