Theo clenched his jaw. The moment the system's notification faded, he turned away from the others. He didn't wait for thanks or questions. He already knew what was coming.
He wasn't supposed to be here.
Trespassing into a restricted zone and an unauthorized use of powers without clearance.
Theo took a step back, preparing to Shadow Step out before reinforcements could react.
But-
He couldn't move. His body tensed, frozen in place. An invisible force wrapped around his arms and legs, locking him mid-step like invisible chains. His muscles strained, but there was no breaking free.
He didn't have to look to know who it was. "Let go," he muttered, eyes narrowing.
From behind, Lexa stood with her hand slightly raised, fingers splayed. Her eyes glowed faintly, icy and unreadable.
"You're not going anywhere," she said calmly, her voice low but firm.
Then he heard her voice, sharp and commanding.
