Chapter 79: The Deal Gets Messy
Raphael froze mid-step, his back stiffened as he turned around, twisting his mouth and eyes into an irritated glare.
"What now?" he snapped.
"You've already dragged me into the middle of a forest like some common criminal. Haven't I humored your little rebellion enough?"
Pedro snorted, stepping in front of him with a smirk that could rival a cat cornering a mouse.
"Oh, Raphael, you really think we're just letting you go back to your shiny castle without a leash? Come on, you're smarter than that."
Raphael's eye twitched. "Leash? You dare—"
"Dare?" Pedro interrupted, grinning wider. "Oh, buddy, you haven't seen daring yet."
Kael stepped forward, raising a hand to silence Pedro.
"What Pedro means," he said with mock diplomacy, "is that while we appreciate your sudden bout of cooperation, we can't exactly trust you not to slither back to your old tricks the moment you're out of our sight."