"How brazen," Caelen said with a soft chuckle. "Didn't I make it clear? Don't you see what's around you?" His gaze swept the park lazily. "I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to make this serpent show its—"
"And?" Eli cut in, lifting his chin to meet Caelen's eyes.
Caelen paused. "And? Don't you see how dangerous—"
"No matter how arrogant you are," Eli interrupted again, his voice tight but steady, "I'm sure you're not so evil as to let these children get hurt, Caelen."
His free hand trembled as it grabbed the front of Caelen's shirt, fingers curling into the fabric as he pulled him closer.
"Don't think I'm as stupid as the others," Eli continued, narrowing his eyes, "someone who'd fall for a trick as cheap as this."
Silence fell between them.
Caelen didn't move.
Didn't speak.
And all the while, Eli was shaking inside.
Cold sweat gathered at the back of his neck despite the winter air, his heart thudding painfully against his ribs.
'Please work. Please work.'
