Gasping for breath, her voice muffled, she managed to summon her remaining strength and softly uttered, "Az... Azz... Let... let go." Her words, a desperate plea, hung in the air, carrying the weight of her longing for freedom and the hope that Azriel would release his hold on her.
With a sudden loss of energy, Azriel staggered, his grip on Olivia's neck weakening enough for her to gasp for air. She greedily inhaled, filling her lungs with much-needed oxygen.
Meanwhile, Azriel, trying to conceal his pain, touched his heart, his face betraying the strain he felt. Beads of sweat trickled down his forehead, a clear indication of the agony he endured.
As Olivia turned to face him, he commanded, "Stay put and don't look."
Frozen in place, she listened intently to his strained voice. Before she could gather her wits, he waved his hand and vanished into thin air.
