Zaira's grin faltered, her eyes narrowing sharply as she barked, "Mel, don't joke like that." Her voice carried through the cave, too loud against the heavy drip-drip of water echoing from the stone ceiling. "I know you're still pissy, but we're with Eli right now."
But Mel didn't laugh. He didn't smirk. He didn't say a word.
'I don't think he's joking.'
Eli's pulse spiked, thudding in his ears. His gaze snapped instinctively toward Kairo—just as the S-Class hunter moved forward, each deliberate step sending ripples coursing across the black water.
Kairo stopped right beside him, his presence grounding and suffocating all at once, as if the air itself had shifted to make room for him.
Eli swallowed hard, his throat dry. His feet moved before he realized, splashing forward into the shallow pool. "Mel…?" His voice cracked, soft but trembling. "What do you feel? Tell me."
