Fierce Defiance

Declan suddenly reached out and seized Sloane with his fingers. The crisp sound of a bone breaking rang out, clear and sharp even amidst the chaos, like a hammer striking down.

The intense pain drained all color from Sloane's face. Though she didn't utter a word, her hand involuntarily released Blair's hair. Blair, now free, quickly shrank into Corinne's embrace, trembling uncontrollably with fea