"Zero"
He snapped his eyes open, then slammed his foot into the ground.
The water tore itself apart with a low, rumbling groan and spiraled around him like it recognized him.
Kael stood in the center. Tall. Still. With a crooked grin pulling at his lips.
The shadows curled at his heels. His shoulders didn't tense.
The water didn't fall. It spun. Fast and furious.
Circling around him like a living beast obeying its master.
The force of it carved a crater beneath his feet, but the ground remained dry. The place he stood on was untouched by even a single drop of water.
He stood there, firm. Then he slowly lifted his head, slow and steady, and his gaze met Liz.
Liz stood on top of Cyrus. The wind swept through her hair, brushing it across her face. She stood still. He couldn't read her expressions at first, but when her eyes met his. Something softened in her gaze, and then, slowly, a smile began to form. It was quiet. The kind that didn't need words to express.
Then she moved.
