Watching Magnus's face darken, Astrid was secretly delighted. She sobbed even harder, tears streaming down as she pleaded, "Magnus, you're my brother-in-law, you have to stand up for me..."

Zara fanned the flames from the side, smirking. "Look how miserable she looks, crying like that. You really need to stand up for her, or people will say you're an unkind brother-in-law, just standing by while outsiders bully your sister..."

She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.

Magnus had stepped in ...