Blue Diamond Academy
The office was a wreck. Splintered wood and glass dust crunched underfoot. One wall bowed inward from where Viktor's ice had detonated outward moments before.
Ambrose sat on what was left of his desk, Orion curled against his chest, small fists twisted into his shirt.
"Is she gone?" Orion's voice was muffled, barely above a whisper.
"She's gone, buddy." Ambrose pressed his lips to the boy's hair, trying to hide the slight tremble in his voice.
That was close.
Way too close.
Devon hadn't fully powered down—faint heat still shimmered off his shoulders, flames dying reluctantly under his skin.
Viktor stood near the shattered window, frost still crawling in slow spirals over broken glass.
Gabriel hadn't said a word since his space-lock failed. He just stared at his own hands as though they'd betrayed him. Valentine kept close to the door, shadows pooling faintly at his feet.
