Nicholas POV
Nicholas walked through the destroyed front doors with his brothers flanking him and Lilith between them, and the first thing he saw was power.
Victoria Morvaine stood twenty feet from the entrance with twelve witches and warlocks arrayed behind her in formation. Her dark robes moved in a wind that existed only around her, and her eyes glowed with barely contained magic. The air itself seemed to bend around her presence, shimmering with heat and pressure.
She was not here to negotiate.
She was here to take.
Behind Nicholas, at least thirty pack wolves held defensive positions, some shifted, some human, all of them ready to fight and die if necessary. He could feel their tension through the pack bond, their absolute loyalty warring with their very reasonable fear of the magical power arrayed against them.
This was about to become a bloodbath.
Unless he could stop it.
Nicholas stepped forward, putting himself between Victoria and Lilith. "Victoria."
