82 Freedom Returned (2/2)

"I'm not here to destroy anything, not even your master." Wren remained frighteningly calm on the outside, but an edge crept into his voice at the mention of Ciprian. "He is more than capable of doing that himself."

Loma cried out, and Wren's eyes flashed in her direction. "I'm sorry, sister, but it's true."

"Sister? You dare to call her your sister?" Alaric closed the distance between them in two strides. He raised his hand and forced what energy he had from his fingertips. The static charge of his whip crackled at his feet as he prepared to unleash it on Wren.

Wren allowed his own magic to flow into his open palms, but Rowan could tell he was only planning to use it to defend himself.

When a lightning streak of white shot from Alaric's clenched fingers to the end of his whip, Rowan jumped between the men, arms flung wide. Loma lunged out of Nicasi's grasp, but he snagged her around the waist and held her back.