"I have been very patient with you," Lumberling said evenly, his voice calm but carrying the weight of command. His eyes burned with quiet threat as he looked down at Kairo, who struggled to even raise his head. "I wonder… how you've survived this long without knowing who you're making enemies with."
The pressure intensified, and Kairo's breath hitched, his forehead nearly pressed to the floor. His body trembled under the invisible weight crushing him.
He forced his head up, teeth gritting, but when his eyes finally locked on Lumberling's, the fight drained from him. What he saw was worse than fury, Lumberling was smiling faintly, his arm possessively pulling Lireath closer by the waist, as if daring the boy to speak another word.
"You… bastard…" Kairo rasped, voice breaking under the strain.
