Freya stood, her flame-saturated aura flaring brighter as she glared at Chloe. “You’re really testing my patience, Chloe. I’ve had enough of your bratty little attitude. You may have the storm, but I have the fire. And fire always fucking wins.”

Chloe’s lips twisted into a playful grin, her eyes flashing with mischief. “We’ll see about that, Freya. I’m just getting started. Don’t think your fire can handle the full force of a Jupiter storm.”

The room seemed to grow heavier, the tension between them palpable as their powers simmered beneath the surface. Freya’s flames flickered with rage, while Chloe’s storm began to swirl more violently, the crackling energy in the room intensifying. Both women sat in their thrones, poised for a battle of wills, neither willing to back down from the escalating war of words and power.

“You really are a fucking brat,” Freya muttered under her breath, her eyes still locked on Chloe. “But fine, I’ll show you what happens when you push me too far.”

Chloe raised an eyebrow, her storm swirling with energy. “Oh, I’m counting on it, fire queen. Bring it on.”

Saiphee, Quartz, and Vantheos stood near the door, their eyes wide with shock, unable to fully comprehend what was unfolding before them. The argument between Freya and Chloe was escalating at an alarming rate, the tension in the room thick enough to feel like it could ignite at any moment. Saiphee, usually composed and calm, was visibly rattled. He had never seen the Madams—two of the most powerful figures he had ever known—at each other’s throats like this. Their words were sharp, their glares even sharper, and it was clear that neither was willing to back down.

“Should we... do something?” Saiphee asked, his voice shaky as he glanced nervously at Quartz and Vantheos. His usual confidence had all but evaporated, replaced by the uncertainty of what to do in the face of such raw animosity.

Before he could even process his own question, Quartz, ever the pragmatist, had already made his move. With a quick, deliberate step, he moved to the side, distancing himself from the growing confrontation. His eyes were calm, but there was no mistaking the message in his actions—he wasn’t about to get caught in the crossfire of a battle between two forces as powerful as Freya and Chloe. He silently sought shelter from the storm that was clearly about to unfold.

Saiphee turned to Quartz, a look of surprise on his face. “Quartz...?” he muttered, but Quartz was already a few steps ahead, not waiting for any more discussion. He had seen enough to know that trying to intervene would only make things worse. The tension in the room was thick, and it was clear that no one, not even Quartz, could stop what was about to happen.

But Vantheos, standing beside them, seemed entirely different. His expression was one of genuine alarm, his posture rigid with tension. His eyes flickered between Freya and Chloe, and for the first time, Saiphee noticed the subtle shift in Vantheos’ demeanor. The usually funny man was no longer calm and collected—his gaze was intense, his brow furrowed in concern. He was watching the two women with a level of attention that was far more than just casual observation.

“Vantheos?” Saiphee asked, his voice now laced with worry. The air was thick with impending danger, and Saiphee could feel his heart racing. This wasn’t just a simple argument anymore—it was something much more volatile, and the room seemed to vibrate with the tension.

Vantheos didn’t answer immediately. His eyes were locked on Freya and Chloe, his expression hardening. It was clear that he had realized the gravity of the situation far sooner than Saiphee had. The Madams weren’t just exchanging words—they were preparing for a fight, and Vantheos understood that the consequences of this confrontation could be catastrophic. His muscles tensed, his body coiling in anticipation, ready to react at a moment’s notice.

Saiphee watched him, his concern growing. He had never seen Vantheos so on edge. The man who was usually so composed and unshakable was now clearly alarmed. He could feel the weight of the moment, and for the first time, he realized that the situation was far beyond their control. This wasn’t just a petty squabble—it was a full-blown showdown, and neither of the Madams would back down easily.

The room was charged with energy, the crackle of Freya’s flames and the electric hum of Chloe’s storm filling the air. Saiphee, Quartz, and Vantheos were all silently bracing themselves, each of them sensing that they were about to witness something far more dangerous than they had ever imagined. The Madams were on the verge of clashing, and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

The battle between Freya and Chloe raged on, their powers clashing in a cacophony of destruction. Fire and lightning filled the air, each element colliding with the other in a violent storm of raw energy. Freya’s flames lashed out like a wildfire, while Chloe’s lightning crackled through the air with deadly precision. The room was a battlefield, and everything within it seemed to tremble under the force of their powers.

Vantheos stood frozen, his eyes locked on the fight unfolding before him. His usually calm demeanor had shifted, a deep sense of urgency now in his gaze. The elements were flying everywhere—blazing fire, sharp gusts of wind, and lightning bolts crackling like thunder—each one a potential weapon in the deadly clash. He could feel the tension in the room, the air charged with so much energy that it seemed to pulse with danger.

Suddenly, a massive wave of fire surged toward Chloe, who was barely able to dodge it in time. The flames exploded outward, and a stray ember shot across the room, heading directly toward Saiphee. The intense heat from the flame scorched the air, and Saiphee, still too stunned to react, stood frozen in place, his eyes wide with panic. The ember was coming for him, and there was no time to escape.

“Saiphee, move!” Vantheos shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. But it was too late—Saiphee was too slow to react. The ember was mere inches from him, its heat searing the air around him, when Vantheos made his move.

In a blur of motion, Vantheos lunged forward, his body moving with the speed and precision of a predator. He reached out just in time, grabbing Saiphee by the arm and yanking him out of the path of the incoming fire. The ember whizzed past them, missing Saiphee by mere millimeters, and exploded against the wall, leaving a scorch mark where it had almost struck.

“Are you fucking insane?” Vantheos snapped, his grip tight on Saiphee’s arm as he pulled him to safety behind a nearby pillar. His voice was sharp with both anger and relief, the adrenaline of the moment still coursing through his veins. “Stay the hell out of the way, Saiphee! You don’t want to get caught in this.”

Saiphee, still shaken, nodded rapidly, his breath coming in short gasps. He had never been so close to danger before, and the reality of the battle unfolding before him hit him like a ton of bricks. “I... I didn’t even see it coming,” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you, Vantheos... I—”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Vantheos interrupted, his voice sharp, his gaze never leaving the chaotic battle before them. Saiphee wasn’t safe yet, and neither was he. The air crackled with power as the two Madams clashed, their elements flying through the room with terrifying force. Vantheos kept his hand firmly on Saiphee’s shoulder, guiding him to stay behind cover, unwilling to let him out of his sight. “Stay here, and keep your head down. Don’t move.”

The room was a warzone. Chloe had summoned a massive storm cloud above her, lightning bolts arcing wildly in every direction, striking the walls and floor with deafening cracks. Freya, her flames now spinning in a vortex around her, hurled fireballs at Chloe, each explosion shaking the air. The heat from the flames and the crackling of the electricity made the room feel suffocating, and the smell of burning wood mixed with the sharp scent of ozone.

Vantheos’ focus never wavered. His eyes darted across the room, watching the fight unfold with calculated precision. He had seen how the elements responded to their wielders, how the attacks followed their will, and he knew that at any moment, another stray bolt of lightning or burst of flame could come their way. His chest tightened as he realized how vulnerable Saiphee was in the midst of this storm. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down—not when Saiphee was so close.

“Stay low,” Vantheos instructed, his voice low and commanding, as he crouched down behind the pillar, pulling Saiphee even closer to him. “This isn’t over. If one of those attacks comes this way again, we need to be ready.”

Saiphee nodded, his heart still pounding from the near miss, but Vantheos could feel the tension in his body. He could sense the fear radiating off the younger man, but there was also trust—trust that Vantheos would keep him safe. It was a trust that made something inside Vantheos tighten, something protective, something he wasn’t sure how to handle. He wanted to shield Saiphee from everything, to keep him out of harm’s way, and for a fleeting moment, Vantheos realized just how much he cared for him.

The battle between Freya and Chloe raged on, their powers colliding with ferocity. Freya’s flames roared with unrelenting fury, while Chloe’s storm seemed to grow even more intense. The room was an active battleground, and nothing would stop them until one of them claimed victory.

But Vantheos didn’t care about the fight. Not really. His only concern, his sole focus, was Saiphee. Keeping him safe, keeping him close. He wasn’t sure what was happening to him, but at that moment, all he could think about was protecting him, making sure nothing would hurt him. And as the battle raged around them, Vantheos realized that his feelings for Saiphee had grown into something far deeper than mere duty. He cared for him—more than he had ever allowed himself to admit.