Alaric's voice was firm but edged with concern as he turned to Izaak. "He won't listen. Let him do what he needs to," he insisted, understanding the resolve burning within Magnus.
Magnus tightened his grip around Damien's throat, his eyes filled with cold fury. Damien, despite his weakening state, forced a smirk, though his struggle to break free was evident.
"Magnus, you really don't want to dirty your hands with my blood, do you?" Damien wheezed, trying to inject a note of fearlessness into his voice.
Magnus's expression remained unmoved, his tone low and lethal. "Your mind games won't work on me, Damien. The day I found my aunt dead under mysterious circumstances, I swore I'd kill the one responsible with my own hands. You should have been smarter in your pursuit of victory," he snarled, his grip tightening further.
