*Briella*
My shoulders slumped in relief as I watched the shadow monsters disperse and flee. Above me, Kryzen allowed his magic forcefield to fall and turned toward me. He offered me his hand from my crouched position. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes locked.
I reached for his hand and grabbed it. His warm calloused grip hauled me up more easily than I wanted to admit. He had gotten stronger, much stronger. When we were kids, that would’ve threatened me, now it stirred something completely different inside of me.
I couldn’t find the courage within me to pick apart the emotion, but it was something light, tingly, and curious.
With my eyes still locked on his, I said something completely different.
“I guess you have come a long way. You couldn’t do protection magic like that before,” I quipped, looking away from his gaze and off into the deserted street.
“You’re not the only one who’s grown up, Black.” Kryzen’s words were harsh, but his voice wasn’t.
