Kael dragged a hand down his face, sitting up against the stone wall, his muscles flexing with every motion. He had fought through monsters, hunger, and endless nights without rest—but somehow, this? This was the real battlefield.
He stretched, cracking his neck, his grin sharp as ever. "You both realize I can hear you, right? And last I checked, I wasn’t property to be passed around like a water flask."
Clara’s head snapped toward him, her expression twisting. "You shut up. This is between me and the parasite."
Lyra gasped in mock offense, one hand pressed to her chest. "Parasite? That’s adorable, considering I survived the same infection that would have torn you apart. Maybe he just prefers women with a little… resilience." She licked her lips, her gaze sliding toward Kael. "Isn’t tha
