Elian stared at his phone screen as the name Maya Sinclair flashed boldly. His heart sank, and his pupils constricted as the name triggered a distant memory. Sinclair. He recalled Aria mentioning a cousin who had followed in her father's footsteps, someone heavily involved in groundbreaking technology. Could this be her?
The phone rang insistently, pulling him out of his thoughts. He hesitated, thumb hovering over the green icon. Why would she be calling me? Does she possibly know about all this? The sharp pain in his head flared up again, a cruel reminder of the chaos unfolding on the field. He gritted his teeth, finally swiping to answer.
"Elian Slade?" The voice on the other end was calm yet commanding, carrying an edge of urgency.
---
Elian answered the call reluctantly, his heart still racing.
"Maya," he said flatly. "Why are you calling me?"