Izan burst through the heavy door of the chamber, his sword already drawn, his heart pounding in his chest.
The dimly lit room reeked of incense, the thick, cloying smoke hanging in the air, but it couldn't mask the more grotesque smell, the metallic, sickeningly sweet scent of blood and something else. Something vile.
His stomach churned as his eyes locked onto the scene before him.
At the far end of the room, Lucian stood with his back to them, dressed in a dark, flowing robe. His long, greasy hair hung limply over his shoulders, and he was too caught up in his sick pleasure to notice the intrusion.
Kneeling in front of him were two children, barely twelve years old, a boy and a girl, both trembling, their eyes wide with terror. The boy's small hand was on Lucian's private parts, while the girl tried to fit Lucian into her mouth.
