Jason stood on the edge of the top-floor landing, heart slamming against his ribs. Tauriel stood barely ten feet away, flanked by four armed female elves in gleaming armor, their hands glowing with crackling mana. He knew he stood no chance against the female elves in front of him. Even with his partial adaptation, he was still just one human against an entire palace of powerful elves who had centuries of training and magic on their side.
Fighting right now was pointless. Even if he could somehow defeat them, it would not change the fact that this was their city. The last thing Jason wanted or needed was to become a wanted person in a place where they could dissect him like the broken males he had seen in the dungeon.
He sighed heavily and slowly raised both hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright," he said, voice steady despite the fear clawing at his throat. "You win. I'm not running anymore."
