The Fallen Protector

The syllables of her name scraped against the unnatural stillness of the room. It was Malacor’s voice, yet the gentle, protective warmth that had anchored her childhood was completely eradicated. A hollow anguish bled through the rough timbre, woven with a corrosive fury that sent a chill racing down her spine.

She stared at him, paralyzed. The steadfast companion of her youth had been replaced b