He paused mid-turn as Claire eyed him, something unreadable glinting in her gaze. "Okay…I will take care of it," he said, his tone steady, though a coil of unease coiled in his gut. "Just search for the other guys I named." He rose, the weight of the decision making his bones ache—not from battle, but from the sacrifice demanded of him.
Claire stood as well, dusting the folds of her skirt. She cocked her head, lips curling with a teasing light. "Hmmm…you actually grew taller…growth spurt?" she murmured, her eyes drifting upward as if measuring him against a mental ruler.
Atlas chuckled, a soft rasp after so many days of shouting and clashing steel. "Yeah…I'm a growing man." He brushed off the remark with a practiced grin, but inside, a storm flickered. 'Growing—into what?'
