Meeting

Kael finally raised his eyes.

And the temperature in the room seemed to lower by a breath.

Cassian stopped breathing. Luneth shifted her stance, subtly—but not subtly enough for someone like Kael to miss.

Still, he said nothing.

His eyes landed on Lindarion like weights dropped into a well. Not burning. Not furious. Just fixed.

"Do you think," Kael said softly, "that you're untouchable?"

'Why is he acting like a third rate villain…'

Lindarion didn't answer.

Kael rose.

Not fast. Not in a flash. He stood like someone standing from a throne he didn't remember sitting on.

He was taller. Older. And behind his presence lurked something feral, not like Rowan's shadow-predator weight, but colder. Sharper. Less wounded, more refined to a weapon.