Yori's hand grasped Parele's, and a brilliant golden light enveloped their wrists. The air was charged with an otherworldly energy as a delicate, filigree-patterned bracelet materialized on Parele's arm, its design shimmering like the sun.
Parele's eyes widened in horror. "No! No!! This can't be! No!!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the throne room.
"Oh, calm down, young one," she whispered, her voice husky and soothing. "Just a little gift."
Queen Hawa's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking between Yori and Parele. "He's a lot smarter than I thought," she murmured. "I thought only trained sorcerers knew about teicaiiu – the bonding bracelet."
Yori's smile never wavered. "He reads a lot of books, Hawa. And I suppose he's more perceptive than I gave him credit for."
Parele's voice trembled, barely above a whisper. "Why did you do this to me? I'm just jumping from one problem to another." His eyes darted between Yori and the queen, searching for an escape.