Ashes Of Desire
The acrid scent of ozone and burnt copper hung heavy in the air, thick enough to coat the back of the throat. Sparks continued to spit from the fried control panel, casting a flickering, electric blue strobe across the damp stone walls of the west wing transit gallery. Beneath the half-open iron security gate, Julian’s fingers locked around Elder Torin’s throat with terrifying, crushing precision. The elder’s heels scraped desperately against the flagstones, his breath catching in a dry, rattling gasp as he was hoisted inches off the ground by raw, unadulterated Alpha fury.