Before I could argue further, the door exploded inward. Not slowly, not with warning. Just suddenly gone, reduced to splinters by pure magical force.
And through the opening walked Daemon, his shade massive around him, his eyes glowing with triumph.
"End of the line, Princess. No more running. No more hiding. Just you, me, and my daughter who you've tried so desperately to keep from me."
"She's not your daughter."
"We've had this argument. You lost." He moved closer. "Now hand her over. Peacefully if possible. By force if necessary. Either way, I'm taking her."
"Over my dead body."
"If you insist." His shade reached for me, dark tendrils wrapping around my arms and legs, immobilizing me completely. "Though really, Princess, did you think you could stop me? You're a powerless human who just gave birth. I'm a master of shadow magic at the height of my power. This was never going to end well for you."
