The roots that had been tearing through her group froze, then retreated into the sand like scared animals. The ground stopped shaking. For a second, the Death Zone held its breath.
"Don't touch what is mine." A voice colder than ice rang out.
Chloe turned and her heart skipped a beat. The way she felt for her men back home was the way she felt for the cold, blue-haired mer. Something warm and dangerous pulled in her chest.
She touched her heart with her left hand. The second blue string burned hot.
"Larent," Chloe said. The word came out like air she'd been holding for hours. The strings on her wrist burned even hotter. He was finally here. But it didn't sit well with her.
The idea of him showing his real face at this kind of time made her look at him with wariness.
The hope she felt at first was gone. Now she wished he was far away from the king infernal. Far from the Death Zone. Far from her. She'd rather face Felix alone than watch Larent burn.
