[Commencing World Transfer in: 3 Minutes]
Adrian took a deep breath as he read Valor's message again, his gaze lingering on the words longer than necessary. The message was short, almost painfully so, yet it carried weight enough to still his racing heart—Ariana and Annabelle were safe. The adversary had been dealt with. The danger, at least for now, had passed.
Even so, the tightness in his chest did not fade.
Turning toward Raven, the first thing he said was, "I am sorry."
The words felt heavier than any apology he had spoken before. He reached out and held her hand, his shoulders finally dropping as if the strain he had been carrying all this time had found a crack to escape through. "I shouted at you even though you were trying to help me."
Raven looked at him, surprised at first, but she did not pull her hand away.
"If not for you," Adrian continued quietly, his voice rough, "I might have kept panicking. I might have done something reckless."
