The laughter echoed through the ruined city long after it should have disappeared.
Nicole stood frozen beneath the ancient stone archway, her eyes fixed upon the black flames dancing between the buildings. Jasper remained beside her, sword drawn, his body tense as he watched every shadow around them. Aokoya stood several feet ahead, his massive body lowered as a deep growl rumbled through his chest. The golden glow of his eyes illuminated the ash gathering beneath his paws, but even the spirit wolf seemed reluctant to venture farther into the city.
Nicole's heart pounded.
She knew that voice. Not because she had heard it many times recently, but because there was something unmistakable about it. Something that seemed to reach beyond her ears and settle directly into her mind.
Kanza.
Her brother had called her name.
Yet something about the way he spoke made her uneasy.
"That was him," Nicole whispered.
