"Hey, sunshine, I get it—you missed me. Can you let go of me?" Kael muttered.
"No," Liz said. The word came out muffled—her face buried against his shoulder, while her arms wrapped tight around him.
Kael sighed and rubbed her back once, slow.
"Yeah… I missed you too."
He hesitated. "But we really need to find Caius."
That got her attention. She hesitated, then finally let go.
Kael turned to the woman beside Liz. She was pressed against a tree, hands behind her, breath short and sharp. The moment he stepped forward, she flinched—like someone had hit her.
Then the scream tore out of her. High-pitched. Raw. Like something broken had snapped loose.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Huh? Lady, I just saved you," he muttered, stopping in his tracks.
"You… monster," she whispered.
Kael raised a hand, trying to show he meant no harm.
But she only shook harder, like his presence alone made her skin crawl.
Then—BAM—Liz smacked him on the back of the head.
