"So much for covet ops."
The girl glanced over her shoulder at Eric, and he froze where he stood. For a moment, everything seemed to slow. She was stunningz there was no denying that, but it wasn't just her looks that caught him off guard, there was something else.
It was the aura surrounded her, subtle but undeniable. Even as she stood still, it flowed off her in quiet waves. It wasn't loud or overwhelming, but it carried a strong sense of confidence, like she knew exactly what she was capable of and didn't need to prove it to anyone.
Then, from the burning wreckage, the man with the red mane of hair stepped out of the flames as if they were nothing more than mist. The fire curled around him, licking at his clothes and skin, but it left no mark.
He walked forward calmly, completely unharmed.
He lifted a hand and tapped his shoulder lightly. The flames clinging to it flickered once, then died instantly, as if they had never existed.
