The guards closed in around me like a pack of wolves circling their prey, their leather armor creaking with each deliberate step.
My heart raced as fear twisted in my gut, but I couldn't let them see my panic. Instead, I straightened my spine and glared defiantly at Thalira, who was now gliding toward me with a predator's grace.
"Please," I spat, trying to mask my anxiety. "You think you can keep me here? I won't be a pawn in your twisted game."
Her laughter tinkled like glass shattering, sharp and beautiful yet deeply unsettling. "Oh, Eileen," she mused, tilting her head just so as if appraising an exquisite piece of art. "You underestimate what I am capable of. This isn't merely a game; it's an intricate dance, and you have only just begun to learn the steps."
The guards seized my arms, their grips firm and unyielding as they began to lead me back through the corridors I had just fought so hard to escape.