Chapter 40
On the earth below, the squad stood in a ragged semicircle, necks craned skyward. The two figures—Dax and the legendary Merlin—hung suspended against the pale blue like distant stars made flesh. Awe painted every face in the group.
"Why is Lord Merlin here?" Hanna's voice came out small, laced with deep concern. She wrapped her arms tighter around herself, as though the name alone carried a chill the Vados sun couldn't touch.
Rain kept his eyes on the sky, arms folded across his chest. "I don't question it, though. After seeing the captain's display of power… I'm not surprised a being like that would show up."
Hanna glanced sideways at her brother, then back up. "From the very first moments with this guy, there's been something off about him."
"Yes, sister," Rain agreed quietly. "I felt the exact same way the instant we met our new captain.
It's clear —he's no ordinary man."
