Chapter 69
The two halves of the thing did not rush toward them. They moved slowly, almost carefully, as if they already understood there was no need to hurry. One drifted toward Ariana while the other advanced toward Kael, and the lack of urgency made it worse.
Ariana felt the shift before anything reached her. The deeper current inside her did not surge or pull away. It settled instead, steady and attentive, like it was watching alongside her.
"It's not rushing," she said quietly.
Kael did not look at her. His focus stayed fixed ahead, lightning wrapped tight around his arms, heavier now and held in place with effort. "It doesn't need to," he answered.
She glanced at him, and something about it did not sit right. He looked controlled, but it did not feel natural, more like he was forcing everything to stay contained. "Kael, don't push it too far."
