The Raven Estate was no longer a ballroom. It was a battlefield. Flames licked across shattered drapes, smoke rolled thick through the chandeliers, and marble floors cracked under the shock of hidden charges. The perfume of wealth was gone, replaced with acrid smoke and the iron tang of fear.Screams echoed through the grand hall as guests stumbled over toppled tables, gowns torn, jewels forgotten. Some clawed for the exits, others huddled in corners, their silk gloves blackened with soot.In the midst of it all, Adrian Kane rose from the rubble, blood dripping from his side, Elena clutched tightly to his chest.Her breath came in sharp bursts, her arms locked around his shoulders. The heat of the fire pressed in from every direction, but his grip never wavered.“Adrian,” she choked, her voice trembling. “You’re bleeding too much”“I’ve bled worse,” he growled, staggering toward the nearest intact corridor. “You’re my priority.”The words stunned her into silence. His priority. Always