Asher, watching from the side, felt amused. "He's using blood law manipulation to wrest control from her."
Valeris shook her head. "Won't work. Her foundation is now part Sanguine Supreme. He'll only irritate her."
Veyra extended one hand and clenched it into a fist. The frozen patches of blood shattered, her own energy reclaiming dominance. With her other hand, she swept a crescent-shaped arc of blood and frost toward him, forcing him to leap back.
He landed in a crouch and slammed his blade into the floor. A ripple spread outward—crimson script formed across the stone, and dozens of skeletal figures burst from below, animated by blood magic. They screeched and swarmed toward Veyra.
She exhaled once, calm.
Then she moved.
