Stella had her hands on the black haired sorcerer and pinned her to the now closed door before either Vasek or I even considered moving. As much as I was furious and devastated by Josephine's betrayal, my heart didn't want her to be harmed. Thus I found myself lunging forward in her defense even while Stella's forearm quietly crushed the breath from the other woman's chest.

My tugging and heaving did no good. Stella simply ignored my efforts to stop her with physical prowess, ...