Kai remained seated on the cold stone bench.
A small shard of ice melted slowly between his warm fingers.
Water dripped onto the floor, echoing loudly in the quiet space.
This holding cell felt much smaller now.
Stone walls pressed inward as tomorrow's approaching reality settled over him.
Dried blood still clung to his skin in flaking red patches.
It cracked across his chest whenever he shifted his weight on the hard stone.
He refused to bother cleaning it off.
That copper smell grounded his racing mind.
It kept his tactical instincts razor-sharp and focused on the mission.
'One night left,' Kai thought, staring right through those iron bars.
'She will come for me at midnight tomorrow.'
'She thinks she is about to own me forever.'
'She thinks her little magical array will strip my free will away.'
He closed his eyes and ran through his master plan again.
Her celestial array would open a direct link between their magical cores.
