Despite the blood dripping from his mouth and trailing down the back of his head, Xavier let out a hoarse, maniacal laugh. "Wow," he rasped, spitting out a glob of blood onto the ground. "That punch really did the trick." He wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes gleaming with unhinged amusement. His goal was to provoke Killian but the king wasn't paying him any attention.
Killian's focus was entirely on his trembling wife as he loosened the chain around her body. "It's me, my wife. I'm here now. Please, stop crying," he whispered, his voice gentle, as if speaking to a frightened child. His hand cupped her cheek, brushing away the tears streaming down her face, but Elena didn't recognize him.
She thrashed against him, her wails growling louder. "Let go of me! Let go of me!" she screamed, kicking and hitting at his chest as if he were the enemy. "I have to save them! My parents…they're calling me! I have to help them!"
