<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99">The young woman froze, as the illusion shattered, a hard ringing piercing her mind and breaking her concentration. Before she had a chance to recover, a heavy hand gripped tightly on her shoulder, causing her to cry out, wincing in pain. </span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6">“Than take me instead.”</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ffcc"> Alexi stated, gritting his teeth from the same ringing, but straightening up, hands balled into fists to fight the pain.</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"> “You can have me, a graduate of the third circle of transmutation, but leave my sister out of this.”</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99">“</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#a6ff4d">Alexi no…”</span><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99"> her voice was barely more than a whisper, pleading eyes rounding on her twin, as she twisted, trying to pull free from the man’s icy grip.</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#bfbfbf">Gadriel looked up from behind his desk, where he’d dove when he’d seen his son’s eyes shift color. The boy had never been able to train out that subtle tell when he was about to use his far stronger magics. At this point he’d have to cut his losses. His children had attacked a member of House Dimir. It would be lucky if Ayla was all he took.</span>